Garrett Nussmeier bided his time on the bench at LSU in the shadow of 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels for the past two seasons.
Now, the 22-year-old quarterback who got his start at Flower Mound Marcus will be the full-time signal caller.
“I feel like God brought me to LSU for a reason,” Nussmeier said during SEC Media Days at the Omni Hotel in Dallas on Monday. “I felt like it was my duty to stay there. And did I want things right away? Yes. But, I feel like God’s timing is always correct. I felt like it was my responsibility to just keep my head down and keep working and trusting Him and trusting His time and trusting His plan for me.”
Nussmeier played at Marcus in 2018 while his father, Doug Nussmeier, served as the Dallas Cowboys’ tight ends and quarterbacks coach. Doug was an NFL quarterback (1994-98) before transitioning to coaching. He stayed with the Cowboys until 2022 and is now a quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Garrett Nussmeier credits his experience playing high school football in Texas for his success at LSU.
“The mindset and the level of intensity of Texas high school football, I think that Texas high school football is the SEC of high school football,” Nussmeier said. “If you asked me, I think SEC football is only second to the NFL. I think there’s nothing else like it, and I think Texas high school football is second to none other than college football.”
“Those [Texas] kids are different,” he added. “You’re trained in that system, and it’s just like college. I truly believe there is nowhere like Texas when it comes to high school football.”
As a high school junior in 2019, Nussmeier completed 66.8% of his passes for 3,788 yards and 38 touchdowns. He earned District 6-6A Overall MVP honors and led Marcus to an 11-2 record and a Texas 6A Division II third-round playoff appearance.
He ranked No. 10 on SportsDay’s top recruits for 2021 and committed to LSU on May 4, 2020.
Senior year, Nussmeier passed for 2,815 yards and 33 touchdowns, leading Marcus to an undefeated district record.
Nussmeier has made 18 career appearances at LSU, completing 129-of-219 passes for 1,720 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
LSU head coach Brian Kelly says he sees some common traits between Nussmeier and Daniels.
”Take the things that are taught in the classroom and be able to translate those things to the field,” Kelly said. “That was one of Jayden Daniels’ best assets… That gift, that ability is what makes great quarterbacks great, and Garrett has been able to do that as well. Now, he has to go and do it in games like Jayden did.”
Nussmeier capped off the 2023 season as MVP of LSU’s ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin, his only career start. He threw for career-highs of 395 yards and 3 touchdowns on 31 completions.
“Garrett Nussmeier, who has waited for his opportunity to be our starting quarterback… His persistence, his patience, his leadership. I’m excited to watch him lead our football team in 2024,” Kelly said. “Now he’s got the keys to the car. I couldn’t be more happy for him and for our football program that he’s leading us.” it’s
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