NFL.com analyst and former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah takes a "first look" at some of college football's top quarterbacks for 2025. This is the second entry in a series of scouting reports that will run in June and July.
At a time when it's common for players to transfer if they don't win a starting job early on in their college careers, Garrett Nussmeier is the exception to the rule.
He waited his turn at LSU for three seasons, backing up Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels in 2023, before finally getting his opportunity to start in 2024, and he made a strong first impression. Nussmeier ranked sixth in the FBS with 311.7 passing yards per game and tied for 10th with 29 passing touchdowns, leading the Tigers to a 9-4 season and earning Texas Bowl MVP honors (313 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT against Baylor).
The son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, Garrett did have his rough stretches in 2024, throwing five interceptions in a two-game span during LSU's three-game losing streak, including a goal-line pick against Alabama. He bounced back for a strong finish to the season, though, and enters 2025 as one of the leading Heisman candidates.
Will Nussmeier be able to build off his first year as QB1 and rise to the top of the 2026 class at the position with some tough competition in the mix? After breaking down his game tape from last year, here is my initial scouting report.
Height, weight: 6-foot 5/8, 204 pounds (spring measurements).
2024 statistics (13 games): 337-of-525 (64.2%) for 4,052 yards (7.7 per attempt), 29 TDs and 12 INTs; 34 carries for -38 yards (-1.1 average), 3 TDs.
Game tape watched: vs. Alabama (Nov. 9, 2024), at Florida (Nov. 16, 2024), vs. Oklahoma (Nov. 30, 2024).
What I liked: There is a lot to like about Nussmeier's game. It's easy to notice how in command he is by the way he orchestrates the offense at the line of scrimmage. He lines everyone up properly and directs traffic based on what he sees from the defense. He's a quick processor, regularly racing through progressions to find his third option. He has a tight/compact delivery and throws a soft/catchable ball.
I love his toughness to hang in the pocket and deliver strikes when absorbing big hits. He's a clunky mover, but he still manages to evade free runners at times, creating outside of the play structure. He has excellent touch on the deep ball and is also adept on over/under throws (over linebackers/under safeties).
Where he needs to improve: Nussmeier needs to do a better job of protecting the football and improving his accuracy on drive throws. These two issues are connected. I love his willingness to attack tight windows, but when tries to generate extra velocity, his ball sails, leading to turnovers. He also needs to speed up his clock at times in the red zone. He locks on and the windows disappear.
Evaluators are going to be critical of his limited physical traits. He lacks prototypical size/arm strength. Obviously, he can't do anything about his height, but I have seen several quarterbacks upgrade their arm strength in the NFL. In his defense, he doesn't play small at all. He's comfortable in condensed space and has a good feel for climbing/sliding in the pocket to find throwing lanes.
Biggest takeaway: It's easy to identify Nussmeier as the son of a coach. He plays with the savvy and understanding of someone who's been around the game a very long time. He gets the most out of his ability and has a presence on the field. There are areas of his game that need to improve, but he has developed a firm foundation.
LSU's schedule will provide him with several marquee matchups to display his growth in 2025. NFL teams are sold on the person, and they are excited to learn more about the player. He has a huge opportunity to help his draft stock this fall.
He reminds me of: I don't have a clean one-to-one comparison, but I do see elements of three different quarterbacks I've studied over the years. Nussmeier's movement and delivery are reminiscent of Tony Romo. His touch and deep-ball trajectory/accuracy gave me some Andy Dalton vibes. His competitive nature and physical frame compare favorably to Brock Purdy. Nussmeier's not a perfect match for any of those three players, but it feels like he comes from the same quarterback family. He might not be their brother, but he could be their cousin ... or nephew!
Numbers to know: Six FBS quarterbacks threw for 4,000-plus yards last season: Nussmeier and 2025 NFL Draft picks Kyle McCord, Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Shedeur Sanders and Will Howard. Of those QBs, Nussmeier was the only one to average fewer than eight yards per attempt (7.7) and post a sub-65 percent completion rate (64.0%) in 2024.
