Prior to the 2025 college season, LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier was viewed as a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. After passing for 4,052 yards and 29 TDs, Nussmeier had Bayou buzz and his Tigers biography said the LSU offense was built around him, and he possessed the "it" factor.
But LSU's season went off the rails and HC Brian Kelly was dismissed after the Tigers started 5-3. Nussmeier was benched during a 20-9 loss to Alabama the following week and he never took another snap. Nussmeier, who completed 67.4% of his passes for 1,927 yards with 12 TDs and 5 INTs, played through an abdomen injury throughout the season that limited his effectiveness.
Nussmeier was one of the players who drew the most attention at last week's Senior Bowl. His pre-draft process could become one of the more interesting storylines this draft season.
"I'm getting there for sure," he told NFL Network's Rhett Lewis, Charles Davis and Daniel Jeremiah following a practice. "I'm still shaking off a little bit of rust off, I haven't played football in three months. But I'm just grateful for this opportunity to come out here and play with the best and am looking forward to the rest of these couple of days and just blessed to be here."
After appearing in 18 games at LSU from 2021-23, Nussmeier made a career-high 13 starts in 2024 and led LSU to a 9-4 mark while hitting on 64.2% of his passes. Then adversity struck in a big way and Nussmeier is hopeful he can regain momentum this spring.
"What a great experience first off to be out here at the Senior Bowl, a game I grew up watching as a kid and dreamed of playing it one day. So, I want to give thanks to them for having me out there," Nussmeier said. "Just try to build chemistry with these guys, it's awesome getting out here to play with so many talented players. These are all very special players out here, so learning how different guys move is a lot of fun for me as a quarterback, learning how to anticipate each and every guy's different movements. So, it's been a lot of fun getting to know these guys and I'm excited for the rest of the week."
Nussmeier's father, Doug Nussmeier, is the New Orleans Saints' offensive coordinator. Doug Nussmeier played collegiately at Idaho (1989-1993) and was a fourth-round selection (No. 116 overall) in the 1994 Draft. He was a member of four NFL clubs from 1994-99 and finished his playing career in the Canadian Football League with the BC (British Columbia) Lions in 2000.
"Our relationship means the world to me," G. Nussmeier said. "He's coached me and he's coached me very hard as people who are around our relationship know. In the backyard if I missed a throw, it was a butt ripping and it was go chase the ball. He raised me with some tough love when it came to coaching, so that helped me always want to push myself to be great. Throughout my entire time in college, he's helped me go through all kind of different adversities. Without him and without my faith in God, I do not know if I would still be here today. So super thankful for him and very, very special relationship to me."
Nussmeier entered last season as the first player in LSU history to return as starting quarterback after passing for 4,000 yards the previous season. But he didn't have the year anyone expected for several reasons. His pro canvas is blank and he has time to provide answers.
"Obviously there are a lot of questions that I have to answer from the way things went this year and I'm just honest and explain kind of the situations and how things went, take ownership for the things that went wrong that were my fault and let them know that I'm healthy and I'm not out here to prove anything," he said. "I'm just out here to show you what Garrett Nussmeier can do when he's truly at his best self."
Get a peek at the action going on in Mobile, Alabama with the best photos Wednesday's 2026 Senior Bowl practice.
American Team quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13), of LSU, looks to pass during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team wide receiver Aaron Anderson (2), of LSU, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team quarterback Cole Payton (9), of North Dakota State, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team wide receiver Ja'kobi Lane (89), of USC, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team wide receiver Cyrus Allen (13), of Cincinnati, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team wide receiver Ja'kobi Lane (89), of USC, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team safety Jalon Kilgore (23), of South Carolina, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team tight end Joshua Cuevas (80), of Alabama, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (44), of Arizona State, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13), of LSU, throws a pass during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team linebacker Namdi Obiazor (10), of TCU, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team wide receiver Malachi Fields (0), of Notre Dame catches a pass as American Team cornerback Malik Muhammad (7), of Texas, defends during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn head coach Alex Golesh watches practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer watches during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team quarterback Taylen Green, of Arkansas, throws a pass during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team defensive tackle Caleb Banks (88), of Florida, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team wide receiver Caullin Lacy (1), of Louisville, caries the ball as cornerback Hezekiah Masses, of California, defends during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team quarterback Luke Altmyer (9), of Illinois, throws a pass during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team coach Drew Terrell, of the Arizona Cardinals, runs through drills with players during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team defensive end TJ Parker (9), of Clemson, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team defensive tackle Lee Hunter (10), of Texas Tech, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team quarterback Diego Pavia (2), of Vanderbilt, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team wide receiver Vinny Anthony II (86), of Wisconsin, catches a pass over National Team cornerback Jalen McMurray (24), of Tennessee during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team defensive end TJ Parker (9), of Clemson, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team wide receiver Devin Voisin (5), of South Alabama, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team cornerback Collin Wright (6), of Stanford, breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Lewis Bond (11), of Boston College, during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team running back Kaelon Black, of Indiana, carries the ball as American Team linebacker Xavian Sorey, of Arkansas, pursues during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team running back Mike Washington Jr. (27), of Arkansas, carries the ball during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team quarterback Taylen Green (10), of Arkansas, looks to pass during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
