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 abdominal injury throughout the season, which 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 (6-1, 205) 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. He started the Senior Bowl for the American Team, earning MVP honors Saturday after leading TD drives on his team's first two possessions in a 17-9 win.
"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, 23, said during the week. "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 (1989-93) and was a fourth-round selection (No. 116 overall) in the 1994 NFL 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," Garrett. 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."
See the action going on in Mobile, Alabama with the best photos from the 2026 Senior Bowl game.
National Team safety Deshon Singleton (29), of Nebraska, celebrates with teammates after an interception during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) of LSU, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team quarterback Diego Pavia (2), of Vanderbilt, throws a pass during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team offensive lineman Markel Bell (70), of Miami, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team safety Kamari Ramsey (27), of USC, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team quarterback Taylen Green (10), of Arkansas, throws a pass during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. (12), of Missouri, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team wide receiver Ja'kobi Lane (89), of USC, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team defensive tackle Tim Keenan III (96), of Alabama, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team running back Mike Washington Jr. (27), of Arkansas, carries the ball during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team tight end John Michael Gyllenborg (84), of Wyoming, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team wide receiver Devin Voisin (5), of South Alabama, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team offensive lineman Dametrious Crownover (78), of Texas A M, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team linebacker Bryce Boettcher (46), of Oregon, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) of LSU, throws a pass during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team running back Jaydn Ott (8), of Oklahoma, carries the ball during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team offensive lineman James Brockermeyer (72), of Miami, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team quarterback Sawyer Robertson (12), of Baylor, throws a pass during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team quarterback Cole Payton (9), of North Dakota State, drops back to pass during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team offensive lineman Jude Bowry (71), of Boston College, during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team safety Michael Taaffe (16), of Texas, during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team quarterback Luke Altmyer (9), of Illinois, throws a pass during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team quarterback Diego Pavia (2), of Vanderbilt, throws a pass during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team defensive end Derrick Moore (8), of Michigan, during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team offensive lineman Jeremiah Wright (77), of Auburn, during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team quarterback Taylen Green (10), of Arkansas, carries the ball during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team running back Seth McGowan (32), of Kentucky, carries the ball during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National Team safety Deshon Singleton (29), of Nebraska, celebrates after an interception during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team tight end Will Kacmarek (87), of Ohio State, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team kicker William Ferrin (14), of Brigham Young, kicks a field goal while punter Brett Thorson (6), of Georgia, holds during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
