One of the most important positions on any football team is quarterback. Lucky for LSU football, this also happens to be a major strength for the program. With players like senior Jayden Daniels and redshirt sophomore Garrett Nussmeier on roster, the Tiger quarterback room should be among the best in college football for years to come.
LSU football preview: Quarterback Jayden Daniels is already a Heisman candidate
At this point, just about everyone in college football knows the name Jayden Daniels. The former five-star quarterback started his career at Arizona State and transferred to LSU after three solid seasons with the Sun Devils.
That decision ended up being a good one for Daniels, as 2022 turned out to be the best season of his career. Throughout the season, he threw the ball for 2,913 yards and 17 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions. Even better, he completed 68.3 percent of his passes, the best percentage of his career.
However, as good as he was at throwing the ball last season, itâs his running ability that has fans excited. Last season, in addition to his passing totals, he was the Tigersâ leading rusher with 885 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Now, heading into 2023, heâs one of, if not the best, Heisman candidates in the SEC. Itâs his last season in college, and heâs likely looking to go out with a bang. Where that gets the LSU football program is yet to be seen, but the team is certainly confident in his ability to lead.
Garrett Nussmeier gives next yearâs team immense upside
Is it possible that LSU football could be even better off at quarterback after senior Jayden Daniels makes his way to the NFL? Well, with redshirt sophomore Garrett Nussmeier on roster, that very well could be the case.
Thatâs nothing against Jayden Daniels by any means, but rather, Nussmeier has that special of an arm. The star Louisiana native has an absolute cannon and impressive ability to roam around the pocket.
The Lake Charles product is about as proud to be from Louisiana as anyone. Many speculated that he might transfer elsewhere in the offseason because he could have started just about anywhere in the country.
However, Louisiana, and LSU for that matter, just means that much to him. He wanted to play for the Tigers and continue to represent the state he loves.
âComing back, I mean, I donât think it was that hard of a decision for me,â Nussmeier explained when asked about his decision to stay in Baton Rouge. âThis is where I want to be. My roots are in this state; this is my home, and it means something to me to represent LSU and to represent this state and these fans.â
When Heisman Trophy contender Jayden Daniels ultimately heads elsewhere after this season, keep an eye out for Nussmeier. He has the potential to bring the LSU football offense to a level it hasnât seen in many years.
Freshman Rickie Collins possesses fantastic potential
Speaking of potential, the Tigersâ third-string quarterback could be great in his own right down the line. Freshman quarterback Rickie Collins, similarly to Garrett Nussmeier, elected to stay close to home for his college decision.
The Baton Rouge native was a four-star and a top 250 recruit coming out of high school. Standing at just 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, heâs a bit undersized for a quarterback but more than makes up for it with his running ability.
Additionally, he has a surprisingly good arm, having thrown for just under 2,000 yards in his junior year.
While we likely wonât see much from Collins for a couple seasons, he has plenty of potential to make a significant impact down the road. If he can put on some more muscle, as well as develop footwork and overall mechanics, he has all the traits necessary to become a college football star.
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