With Myles Brennan ending his college career, what to make of LSU's quarterback competition
With Myles Brennan’s decision to walk away from football after a sad and snakebitten six-year odyssey to become LSU’s starting quarterback, the Tigers look one step closer to determining who will get the nod in the opener against Florida State on Sept. 4.
Or are they?
The next week of fall camp should tell us a lot more about LSU’s quarterback pecking order and first-year coach Brian Kelly’s initial plans for the position in 2022.
The Tigers will take the practice field again Wednesday, with Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels battling redshirt sophomore Garrett Nussmeier for the role of QB1. Over the first two weeks of camp, both quarterbacks had separated themselves from Brennan, who was working almost exclusively with the 2s before retiring.
Brennan’s decision concludes a college career marred by ‘What If’s?’ The 23-year-old senior graduated from LSU some 18 months ago, sticking around multiple times despite transfers (Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels) and fresh faces (Max Johnson, Nussmeier) coming to take his job. He battled a pair of freak injuries that twice stole him of the opportunity to “be the guy” for the Tigers.
Still, Brennan was healthy this spring and fall camp, but he couldn’t lock down the spot. Instead, Daniels has reportedly improved his footwork and accuracy this offseason, while Nussmeier was the talk of spring ball and has carried that momentum into August.
At LSU’s first scrimmage, Daniels took the majority of the first-team reps, as Nussmeier was sidelined with a minor ankle injury and Brennan worked with the backups.
With the Brennan domino down, we should get a better idea how Kelly and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock really view their QB room a couple weeks before the opener.
Multiple scenarios remain in play, though.
Daniels is viewed as the slight leader in the clubhouse, but there’s still several weeks of camp to go. More evaluations and impressions will take place.
The Tigers will scrimmage again this week, and the reps — split between Daniels and Nussmeier — will be closely monitored.
Does Kelly — whose QB history includes multiple examples of picking a guy and then changing his mind, as well as rotating quarterbacks early in the season — prefer one over the other? Or could the Tigers enter the fall with Daniels getting the nod but Nussmeier still a factor — with the best man winning the job outright during the season?
Daniels has the experience — 29 career starts but just 10 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in 2021 — while Nussmeier offers more upside. Both are talented players, with varied strengths. Daniels is a more natural runner and could provide a shaky LSU offensive line (one which will start a true freshman at left tackle) time to coalesce early in the season. His skill-set also fits nicely with Denbrock’s heavy RPO system he ran at Cincinnati with Desmond Ridder.
But that may not be the base offense that Kelly wants to run with the Tigers in the SEC. Is Daniels — just 180 pounds or so — capable of carrying the football 125 times against the likes of Alabama, Texas A&M and Auburn?
Although he isn’t described as a “duel-threat” talent like Daniels, Nussmeier isn’t some statue in the pocket either. The Texas native doesn’t lack athleticism, and at times in 2021, Nussmeier was too eager to abandon his protection and do his best Johnny Manziel impersonation.
Ultimately, decision-making — for both players — will likely be what determines who starts against the Seminoles in New Orleans on Labor Day weekend.
LSU is loaded with playmakers, so Kelly can’t settle on a “safe option.” With so many other unknowns on the roster, the Tigers need a quarterback who will get the ball to Kayshon Boutte, Jack Bech, Brian Thomas and others.
With Brennan out of the picture, one thing is guaranteed now at least — LSU enters a transition season with a new head coach and a new quarterback — Daniels or Nussmeier — who has never started a game in Purple and Gold or in the SEC.