LSU lost one quarterback to the college football transfer portal this offseason, but it won't lose another as Garrett Nussmeier will stay on with the SEC West champions for the 2023 season and not enter his name as the spring window for the portal finally closes, according to media reports.
Nussmeier should be one of the nation's better backup quarterbacks this year, and give LSU one of the most skilled quarterback rooms in college football, as he sits behind starter Jayden Daniels and could be in line to inherit the starting role himself with three years of eligibility remaining in his collegiate career.
Daniels started all 14 games for LSU last season, completing over 68 percent of his passes for 2,913 yards with 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions, also leading the team with 885 rushing yards and 11 additional touchdowns on the ground.
Nussmeier is a former top-100 football recruit who hit just under 62 percent of his throws for 800 yards and five touchdowns with four interceptions in seven games. In place of the injured Daniels in the SEC Championship Game, the quarterback passed for 294 yards and threw two touchdowns.
In the Citrus Bowl win over Purdue to end the season, Nussmeier added 173 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on 15 pass attempts.
After the 63-7 win, quarterback Walker Howard entered the transfer portal and eventually committed to SEC West rival Ole Miss, clearing the way for Nussmeier to take over the definitive No. 2 position for LSU behind Daniels this fall.
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