Despite high expectations at LSU in 2025, QB Garrett Nussmeier was left out of analyst Joel Klatt’s top five quarterbacks for the 2025 college football season.
As Nussmeier, HC Brian Kelly, and the “Bayou Bengals” look to be a disruptor in the SEC in 2025, why did Klatt leave the longtime Tigers’ QB off his rankings?
Analyst Joel Klatt Leaves LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier Out of Top 5 2025 College Quarterbacks
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier figures to be one of the premier passers in college football this upcoming season. However, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt, a former signal-caller himself, doesn’t think he’s part of the handful that can call themselves the best.
In descending order from No. 5, Klatt included Penn State’s Drew Allar, Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, Oklahoma’s John Mateer, Texas’s Arch Manning, and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik in his rankings.
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Former standout LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. propped Nussmeier up earlier this month, telling WAFB-TV’s Jacques Doucet, “I definitely feel like Garrett can do the exact same thing as Jayden (Daniels).”
He continued, “Like I said, being with Garrett, we came in together, and just seeing him get better each and every year and progress throughout the years, I feel like he definitely can do the same.”
Thomas caught passes from Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner now with the NFL’s Commanders, and Nussmeier, a four-star recruit in the 2021 class, according to 247Sports. Starting for Brian Kelly’s Tigers last season, Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns. However, his 12 interceptions tied for the most among SEC passers.
Many are watching for Nussmeier to take a big step this upcoming season. The signal-caller downplayed the noise surrounding him earlier this spring.
“You know, that’s not really my focus,” Nussmeier said. “I think that I’m worried about doing the best I can to help LSU win a national championship. That’s the mindset, that’s the energy and intensity I bring every single day. It’s not about me, it’s not about the transition or the Year 2 (jump).
Nussmeier continued, “It’s about LSU football and Year 4 under coach (Brian) Kelly, what are we going to do? And, you know, we’re not afraid to admit it. We’ve set the standard of where we expect to be, and we expect to play football in January next year.”
Kelly added a pair of transfer wideouts in Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (Kentucky) to bolster Nussmeier’s options this offseason. If they can get the chemistry down, this could be a dangerous aerial attack in the SEC.
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