The LSU Tigers are looking to move forward on offense after the Jayden Daniels era and have turned to multi-year backup Garrett Nussmeier to lead the unit. The LSU coaching staff is high on Nussmeier, partially because he’s been with the program for years and partially because of what he was able to do last time he was the primary starter, racking up over 8,000 yards and 83 touchdowns in high school.
Garrett Nussmeier Played High School Football in Texas
The son of Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier, Garrett Nussmeier played high school football at Marcus High School in the talent-rich Flower Mound, TX. The Nussmeiers lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area when Doug was a coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
The younger Nussmeier was one of several highly rated quarterbacks from the Lone Star State in the 2021 class, including Jalen Milroe, Quinn Ewers, and Preston Stone. Nussmeier was the 88th overall and 11th-best quarterback in the 2021 class and chose LSU over offers from Georgia, Texas A&M, and others.
Nussmeier had a phenomenal high school career, leading Marcus to a third-round playoff berth and winning District 6-6A Offensive MVP as a senior.
In three years as a starter, Nussmeier threw for over 8,000 yards and 83 touchdowns, including 2,815 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior. He only threw 20 interceptions in his three years at Marcus before moving back to the state he was born in to play his college career.
From Patient Backup to SEC Starter
While Nussmeier was a prolific passer in high school, he had to wait his turn in college, being passed over on the depth chart by a transfer in 2022. Granted, that transfer was 2023 Heisman trophy winner Jayden Daniels, but many players would have transferred.
Nussmeier didn’t.
Instead, he waited patiently, making the most of his limited opportunities. In three years, Nussmeier threw for 1,720 yards in 18 games, mostly as a backup in blowouts. However, he got the start in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl, throwing for 395 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception against Wisconsin in his first career start.
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Now, it’s Nussmeier’s team, but the Tigers lost several key offensive playmakers from last year’s prolific unit. It remains to be seen if he can be a star, but if past results are any indication, Nussmeier is in for a huge year.
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