LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is down in Mobile for the Senior Bowl, but just a few weeks ago, he wasn’t even sure he’d be healthy enough to suit up. After battling a lingering core injury throughout the season, Nussmeier is finally on the mend-and he’s using this week as a reset, both physically and mentally, as he works his way back to full strength.
Speaking on 104.5 ESPN’s Off The Bench, Nussmeier pulled back the curtain on just how much the injury impacted his play in 2025. He revealed that the issue was more than just nagging-it fundamentally altered how he threw the football.
“I couldn’t use my core,” Nussmeier said. “So I was throwing the ball without my core.”
That’s no small thing for a quarterback. The core is the engine room of a throw-it's where the torque, balance, and power come from.
Without it, even the most talented arms can look off. And for Nussmeier, that meant trying to muscle throws without the rotational force that gives passes zip and accuracy.
It’s like asking a pitcher to throw heat without using their legs-technically possible, but nowhere near the same.
According to Nussmeier, it wasn’t until about a month ago that doctors were finally able to diagnose the issue and put together a recovery plan. That clarity came just in time to give him a shot at participating in the Senior Bowl, a pivotal showcase for draft hopefuls.
“It was a game-time decision to see if I could come out here,” he said. “We finally have a good plan to get healthy.”
Now that he’s back to training properly, Nussmeier says he’s essentially rebuilding his mechanics from the ground up-relearning how to finish throws, rotate through the motion, and trust his body again.
“The ball is coming out a whole lot differently,” he said. “It’s been good.”
For NFL scouts watching this week, that’s a promising sign. Nussmeier has always had the tools-arm talent, football IQ, poise in the pocket-but with a clean bill of health and a retooled throwing motion, he’s aiming to remind evaluators just how high his ceiling can be.
The Senior Bowl is often where draft stocks rise or fall, and for Nussmeier, it’s more than just a proving ground-it’s a chance to show what he looks like when he’s finally close to 100%.