Garrett Nussmeier’s time at LSU didn’t end with a Heisman or a national title, but make no mistake-he walks away as one of the most productive quarterbacks in the program’s storied history. Over five seasons in Baton Rouge, Nussmeier carved his name into the Tigers’ record books, finishing third all-time in passing yards (7,699), fourth in touchdowns (52), and second in completions (660). That’s rarefied air in Death Valley.
But his final chapter in purple and gold didn’t go quite the way he-or anyone else-had hoped.
Heading into the 2025 season, Nussmeier was riding a wave of momentum. He had just come off a breakout 2024 campaign where he threw for over 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns, and he entered the fall as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender and a projected first-round pick in early NFL Draft mocks. The expectations were sky-high.
Then came the injury.
Nussmeier battled an abdominal issue for much of the season, one that turned out to be more serious than initially understood. He revealed earlier this week that he was essentially throwing without access to his core-an almost impossible task for a quarterback operating at the highest level of college football.
The result was a tough senior season: 1,927 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions across nine games. For a player who had the tools and the trajectory to be a top-five pick, it was a frustrating setback.
Now, all eyes turn to the Senior Bowl.
This weekend in Mobile, Nussmeier has a golden opportunity to remind NFL scouts of the player he was in 2024-and the one he still believes he can be. The buzz around him has cooled since the summer, when analysts like Todd McShay had him pegged as high as No. 4 overall in the draft.
Today, he’s more often projected as a Day 2 selection. But with a strong showing on Saturday, he could very well shake up that narrative.
The timing couldn’t be better. The 2026 quarterback class isn’t exactly overflowing with surefire first-rounders.
In the latest projections, only three quarterbacks-Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, and Trinidad Chambliss-are expected to go in the first round. That leaves the door wide open for someone like Nussmeier to make a late climb up draft boards.
And let’s be clear: the tools are still there. Nussmeier has the arm, the experience, and the football IQ to compete at the next level.
What he needs now is a clean bill of health and a platform to showcase his upside. The Senior Bowl is exactly that.
Beyond the draft implications, there’s a deeper story here-one about loyalty and perseverance. In an era where quarterbacks are quick to transfer at the first sign of adversity, Nussmeier stayed.
Five years at LSU. A career that weathered competition, injuries, and shifting expectations.
He stuck it out, gave everything he had, and leaves as one of the most accomplished passers to ever wear the purple and gold.
Tiger fans know what he meant to the program. Now it’s time for NFL teams to see what he can bring to the next level.
The spotlight is on. Let’s see what Garrett Nussmeier does with it.