Garrett Nussmeier reveals the area he has improved on the most

As LSU gets ready for the 2023 season, it does so knowing it’s got a starting quarterback it can rely on in Jayden Daniels. How backup quarterback Garrett Nussmeier continues to manage things, though, will be important.

He needs to be ready in the event something happens and the Tigers have to turn to him. Luckily, he’s been seeing improvement in his own game throughout the offseason.

“I think the biggest thing that I’ve improved on under this staff is just improving my emotional awareness working through things that I didn’t really know how to work through before,” Nussmeier said. “Trying to stay even-keeled, not too high, not too low.”

Nussmeier has played in spots for LSU over the last two seasons, throwing for 1,129 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions.

It’s been a little up and down, with sacks an issue for him in limited action in 2021 and interceptions a bit of a problem in 2022. Still, he can be a quality backup.

Rounding out all aspects of his game will be key for the backup quarterback in 2023. For him, that starts with being emotionally sound.

“I’m very passionate and it can come out at times and sometimes it can hurt me and sometimes it helps me,” Nussmeier said. “Trying to use that and push that into a way that helps me only and eliminate the emotions that start to hurt me.”

Daniels will be the starter unless something goes wrong — an injury could shake up the quarterback outlook — but Nussmeier needs to be ready nonetheless.

The Tigers have College Football Playoff aspirations in 2023, so even if Daniels is forced to miss a series or two with a turned ankle, Nussmeier needs to be ready to pick up without missing a beat.

The good news is that’s the other area of improvement the backup quarterback has seen from himself.

“I think one of the other big things is I’ve learned how to just kind of focus and stay locked in throughout each rep, each play, each drive,” Nussmeier said. “I think it’s helped me a lot.”

LSU will open the season against Florida State on Sept. 3.