With LSU fall camp looming this week, we will take a look and preview the season for the Tigers in 2025 by position group. As always, it makes sense to start with the quarterback position, especially when LSU has one of the best returning signal callers in college football in Garrett Nussmeier.
Statistically, it was a productive first season for Nussmeier, who waited his turn after watching his predecessor Jayden Daniels lead the offense the previous two seasons. In a year full of high end quarterback talent in college football, it is Nussmeier, who is the returning leading passer in college football. Last season, the son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier completed 64% of his passes (337/525) for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns. Although it was a great first season and the best by a first year starting quarterback in LSU history, the Tigers’ gunslinger definitely wants to minimize the mistakes after throwing 12 interceptions a year ago.
“One, there’s no hiding from the turnovers. I think it’s more of an understanding of, you know, the way I am as a player, as an anticipation player, there’s going to be some interceptions. The ones I need to eliminate are the ones that don’t need to happen, the ones where I’m trying to do too much, the ones I’m trying to make a play when I don’t need to.
I think it ties into my growth as well, and I’ve really bought into trying to change my body makeup and being able to be more durable, to be able to run, to be able to make plays with my feet as well.
I think there are times last year where I may have made a mistake, that if I would have put my head down, gone and got back to the line of scrimmage, or went ran for three yards and slid, would have been a different outcome. All tied in together.
There are also many ways I’m trying to grow as well and be better as a player. As I said before, it’s more about becoming more well-rounded and raising the floor.”
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier
Capping off the 2024 campaign with a MVP performance in the Texas Bowl, the fifth year LSU quarterback is trying to accomplish something similar to what previous LSU quarterbacks like Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels did in their second years. That is lighting up the college football world and winning the Heisman Trophy. Nussmeier is certainly aware of those expectations, but he realizes that he just needs to stay in his own lane.
“It’s huge to me. I think, obviously with the track record that LSU quarterbacks have in the past, it’s not a thing of disrespect. I have a lot of respect for Jayden, a lot of respect for Joe and what they were able to accomplish in their second years, and also respectively in their first years.”
“But as I said before, I’m me. At the end of the day, I’m Garrett Nussmeier. I’m a son of Christ. I’m a follower of God. That’s who I am. That’s who God made me be, and I’m worried about improving myself, being the best I can be to lead us where we want to go.”
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier
The Tigers are projected to do a lot of big things this season overall as a team perhaps being a Top 5 team to start the season. Nussmeier certainly agrees as earlier this offseason, he stated that this is the best roster that he has been a part of.
“Well, Coach Kelly is not lying, you know, it’s definitely the most talented roster that I’ve been a part of at LSU.”
“Just in general, about the team, I think it’s the closest team I’ve ever been on at LSU, as far as the brotherhood and the camaraderie within the locker room.”
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier
Because of last year’s production, potential in this year’s offense, and what other LSU quarterbacks have done in their second year, Garrett Nussmeier has been one of the most hyped quarterbacks heading into the season as he was selected preseason 2nd Team All-SEC and is looked at as one of the top prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. As a Lake Charles, Louisiana native, Nussmeier wants more than anybody to cement his status with the program and bring a championship back to Baton Rouge.
“Coming back, I feel like I had unfinished business. I feel like the product that I put on tape wasn’t what I wanted it to be and it’s not what I wanted to leave.”
“I didn’t want to watch anybody else try to make that happen. I wanted to be the guy to spearhead that and lead that, so it wasn’t that hard of a decision for me.”
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier
Nussmeier will get the chance once again to lead the show and take the Tigers where they want to go. Backing up Nussmeier this year will be Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren, who accounted for 1,866 yards and 16 total touchdowns as a freshman for the Bulldogs.
“Let’s start with Mike. Obviously played extremely well, did a lot of great things at Mississippi State last year. So when we had the opportunity to add him to our roster, we couldn’t have been more excited. I think Mike, when you watch, when he gets comfortable, when you’ve really seen it, we’ve seen it a lot this spring, his comfortability in the pocket is exceptional. I mean, it is exceptional. I think that’s a really huge talent for him. He can drive the football now. He can touch every piece of the field with his arm. So I’ve really liked his growth. Some of the things that we do, he hasn’t necessarily done, but he’s a quick learner. Once he does it once and as he feels it, he’s been able to make the adjustments and make the growth. We’re able to kind of split off and really focus on what the individual guys need. I think that’s helped Mike a ton.”
LSU OC Joe Sloan
Having a reliable backup behind Garrett Nussmeier will open things up for him to run the ball more than he did last season. There is also Ju’Juan Johnson, who has made the move back to quarterback where he was a high school legend at Lafayette Christian Academy. His dynamic ability as a dual threat playmaker could give him opportunities to see some snaps in different packages.
“Ju’Juan wanted to come back to quarterback. I couldn’t be more excited to have him. He’s obviously a different style of quarterback than the other two guys. You’re going to have to respect his feet. You’ve seen his growth from a passing standpoint. He throws a good ball, but in terms of his read progressions and doing the things he needs to do, his footwork and commanding the huddle, I think he has great leadership skills. Obviously he’s been electric with the ball in his hand. Made a couple of big plays when we’ve been in live tackle situations. He’s been fun to coach. He’s attentive and he’s getting after it.”
LSU OC Joe Sloan
Finally, the Tigers got some good news at the end of spring when Colin Hurley returned back to the team after recovering from a car accident that occurred in January.
“He looks great physically and just to have him back out there is just exciting.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
Continue to keep posted to www.gridironfootballusa.com for all of the LSU fall camp previews and coverage!
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