Ken Ruinard / staff, The Greenville News via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Paul Finebaum Names Major College Football QB Who Had 'Awkward Moments' Last Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated May 29, 2025 11:00 AM ET

The 2025 college football season is just a few weeks away. This year, several new quarterbacks are hoping to gain recognition with the goal of becoming high NFL draft picks.

Last season, Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward surged up the draft boards, ultimately being selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Tennessee Titans. This coming season, LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier aims to replicate that success.

Nussmeier had an impressive season, throwing for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while leading LSU to a 9-4 record. His strong performance as a first-year starter has him projected as a top 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

However, despite his success, ESPN's Paul Finebaum expressed concerns on "The Paul Finebaum Show," stating that he believes Nussmeier's performance was inconsistent last season.

"It starts with Garrett Nussmeier," Finebaum said. "I alluded to him off the air to you about his season. There were some really great moments. There were some awkward moments as there always are."

LSU head coach Brian Kelly expressed his belief that Nussmeier will be different this season due to his growth and the offensive talent surrounding him. He noted that starting in the SEC for the first time can be challenging, but he is optimistic about Nussmeier based on his performance in the last three games of the previous season.

During those last three games, Nussmeier led LSU to three consecutive victories, completing 72.5% of his passes for 922 yards, with seven touchdowns and only one interception.

This performance came after a tough stretch in which the Tigers lost three straight games, during which Nussmeier struggled. In those three losses, he completed 56.8% of his passes for 904 yards, with four touchdowns and five interceptions.

Kelly hopes that Nussmeier will replicate the success he showed in his last three games rather than the struggles he faced earlier in the season. LSU kicks off the 2025 season against the Clemson Tigers on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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