Sports
Garrett Nussmeier, entering his crucial senior season at LSU, has voiced strong confidence in head coach Brian Kelly’s ability to lead the Tigers back to elite form.
Despite a rollercoaster 2024 campaign that ended with a 9-4 record and a Texas Bowl win, Nussmeier feels that one key change in approach can shift the program from solid to dominant.
Nussmeier expressed unwavering support for Kelly: “Coach Kelly’s an unbelievable coach, and I’m fully behind him 100%,” he said.
“I fully believe in what he teaches and what he preaches. He does an unbelievable job with us. It’ll come to light this year. I can’t wait for people to see that.” His trust in Kelly’s vision is rooted in recent shifts within the team’s strategy, which he believes will help eliminate past mistakes and elevate LSU’s play.
Building momentum through refinement
A transformative offseason has seen LSU‘s coaching staff dissect every aspect of the quarterback’s performance. Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan highlighted a meticulous film-study process designed to convert Nussmeier’s potential into consistent results.
“This offseason has been able to be a little bit different because now he’s going back, and when he’s studying, he’s not just studying his practice tape… he’s looking at specifically some stuff that he needs to improve on,” Sloan explained.
This detailed preparation has included refining mechanics, improving footwork, and sharpening defensive reads.
Sloan‘s confidence in Nussmeier‘s growth was emphatic: “No doubt… how he’s grown, how he’s matured, and just the man he’s becoming.”
The Tigers have also reinforced their offensive weapons through the transfer portal, adding speed threats like Kentucky‘s Barion Brown and Oklahoma‘s Nic Anderson to an already strong receiving corps.
Combined with a more mature Nussmeier and a bolstered run game, the ingredients for a breakout season are falling into place.
Despite the outside noise surrounding Heisman Trophy chatter, Nussmeier‘s sights remain firmly on a bigger prize.
He has, however, dismissed individual accolades as “background noise,” clarifying: “A national championship is my main goal this season.”
With Kelly at the helm, this singular focus symbolizes the broader mission within Baton Rouge.
Kelly himself has addressed the baptism-by-fire lessons of 2024. Speaking on ESPN’s College GameDay Podcast, he recalled a mid-season rough patch that culminated in a three-game losing streak, attributing the downturn to turnovers and decision-making miscues.
“You’ve got to go through those tough times to come out on the other end of it,” he said, adding that the late-season surge taught Nussmeier “when to tuck it and run.”
That improved situational awareness was showcased in the team’s season-ending Texas Bowl victory over Baylor, where Nussmeier passed for 304 yards, threw three touchdowns, and captured MVP honors.
This news was originally published on this post .
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