Tigers Coach Brian Kelly - Jimmie Mitchell/SEC
With former starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, Jayden Daniels in the 2024 NFL draft, it marks the end of an exciting era in Baton Rouge. Head Coach Brian Kelly’s job right now, is to find a new starter for 2024 and he doesn’t have to look too far on the depth chart.
What Should the LSU Tiger Nation Expect?
If LSU believes that their winning ways are over under Coach Kelly, then that’s sending the wrong message to the fans, the team, and the entire LSU Tigers football program. Kelly expects to keep winning because he’s the leader of this team. A leader believes his team will win almost every game to keep positive vibes and strong team morale.
Who is Going to Start in 2024?
Last season’s starting quarterback, Jayden Daniels transferred in from Arizona State in 2022 after being the immediate starter in Tempe, Arizona. Daniels sparkled in his LSU debut against the Florida State Seminoles on Sunday, Sep 4, 2022, despite the Noles winning 24-23. It was clear that Daniels was going to be another great quarterback from LSU to potentially be a high draft pick. Daniels led the LSU Tigers to a berth in the SEC championship game against Kirby Smart’s mighty UGA Bulldogs. Despite Daniels leaving the game and being replaced by Garrett Nussmeier, the Bulldogs won 56-30.
Now it will be Nussmeier’s turn to take the realm.
Daniels 2023 Heisman Trophy Season and NFL Draft Declaration
Daniels showed everybody who wondered if 2022 was a fluke or a sign of better things to come in 2023. He blossomed greatly throwing for 40 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions, while rushing for 3,812 yards and 10 touchdowns. The athletic signal caller without a doubt was the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and was victorious during the 2023 Heisman award’s presentation.
Daniels declared for the 2024 NFL draft and would be skipping his senior season. Right now, Daniels is projected to be a top 3-draft prospect and the third-best QB prospect overall.
Nussmeier’s Time to Shine
Enter new signal caller Garrett Nussmeier, who is hard to call new. The son of former NFL quarterback Doug Nussmeier has been with the Tigers football program since 2021. The redshirt sophomore made one start in his career while appearing in 18 games in three seasons. LSU spectators should be happy for Nussmeier in that he already knows the offense.
Coach Kelly doesn’t seem bothered about the inexperience of his new starting quarterback. He thinks with practice he will only get better. “This is still a young man that is going to get better over time,” Kelly told On3. “He’s going to get all the reps that he hasn’t gotten. And we’ve saw glimpses of Garrett Nussmeier with very few reps. I think all of us, collectively, really like what we saw. So, what I think what’s exciting for me is – a guy that’s really going to get a lot of the reps and is going to get better and better.”
While Nussmeier will just be starting as the number one quarterback, let’s see if he can help out the LSU Tigers, and lead them to a winning season.
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