Garrett Nussmeier’s 2025 season was supposed to be his breakout. Instead, it turned into a year of frustration, mystery, and underwhelming performances that left LSU fans wondering what went wrong. Now, we’re finally getting a clearer picture - and it starts with an oblique injury that quietly derailed his entire campaign.
The former LSU quarterback opened up this week in a conversation with ESPN’s Matt Moscona and Jacob Hester, shedding light on just how much that injury affected him. And based on what he shared, it wasn’t just a nagging issue - it fundamentally changed how he played the position.
“I couldn’t use my core,” Nussmeier said. “I’ve been having to just go back from the ground up and retrain myself, get back to finishing throws and rotating through the ball.”
That’s a revealing quote. For quarterbacks, the core isn’t just important - it’s essential.
It’s where the torque comes from, the velocity, the zip on those tight-window throws. Watching Nussmeier last season, you could tell something was off.
The arm talent that had once flashed with promise suddenly looked muted. Underthrows became a pattern.
The deep ball lost its sting. And while the coaching staff, including then-head coach Brian Kelly, often suggested he was feeling better, his on-field play told a different story.
Now it makes sense. If you can’t rotate through your throws, if your core isn’t engaged, you’re essentially throwing with half your body.
That’s not just a mechanical issue - it’s a confidence killer. And for a quarterback trying to cement his place as the next big thing out of LSU, it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
The silver lining? Nussmeier says he’s finally getting back to full health. And he’s using the Senior Bowl as his proving ground - a chance to remind scouts and evaluators of the talent that once made him such a highly regarded prospect.
And so far, he’s making the most of it.
According to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, Nussmeier made a strong impression on day one of Senior Bowl week. “Going off of Tuesday’s practice, Nussmeier [is] clearly the best quarterback here,” Brugler noted. “You see the ball and the way it comes off his hand, you see the anticipation, putting the ball in a place where his guy can make a play.”
That’s the version of Nussmeier LSU fans were waiting to see all season. The clean release.
The anticipation. The arm talent.
It was all there - just hidden behind an injury that robbed him of his foundation.
It’s disappointing that we never got to see a fully healthy Nussmeier lead the Tigers in 2025. But if he continues trending upward this week, he could still carve out a future at the next level. LSU has a recent track record of producing NFL-ready quarterbacks - Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels - and Nussmeier is hoping to add his name to that list.
The road back hasn’t been easy. But with his core strength returning and his confidence seemingly restored, Garrett Nussmeier’s story might just be getting started.