Lane Kiffin has never been one to shy away from the spotlight, and his recent move from Ole Miss to LSU is no exception. His departure on November 30 left players feeling blindsided, and the buzz has followed him right into Combine week.
Garrett Nussmeier, an LSU quarterback, cut through the noise with a simple statement on February 27: “Coach Lane Kiffin is a Magician.” Coming from someone with no obligation to speak up, those words carry weight.
The context is crucial here. Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris didn't hold back his frustration when speaking to reporters in Indianapolis on February 25, ahead of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Kiffin had repeatedly assured his players that he wasn't leaving, urging them not to believe the rumors. Harris reflected, “He told us not to believe the rumors...
We should have believed it, and he just left out of nowhere.”
Kiffin's reputation for stirring the pot didn't help matters. Before Ole Miss's Sugar Bowl matchup against Georgia, rumors swirled that Kiffin might make a surprise appearance in the broadcast booth mid-game.
It never happened, but the chatter was hard to ignore. Harris, who has known Kiffin since his freshman year, noted, “He’s just trying to troll, for real.”
Despite the drama, Harris put on a solid performance at the Combine, posting a 65 composite score in on-field drills, ranking 16th among defensive linemen. Projections have him going between picks 100 and 130 overall.
Nussmeier, on the other hand, had no political reason to praise Kiffin. His LSU career was over by the time Kiffin arrived in Baton Rouge.
Yet, during the Senior Bowl process in January, Nussmeier expressed confidence in Kiffin's ability to fit into Louisiana's culture and positively impact the locker room. His February 27 post was simply a louder echo of those sentiments.
Nussmeier's endorsement is significant. Ranking third in LSU history in passing yards with 7,699, fourth in touchdowns with 52, and second in completions with 660, his words carry clout. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projects him as a Round 3-4 pick in April’s draft, ranking him sixth among quarterbacks in the class.