Brian Kelly doesn’t want Garrett Nussmeier to feel like he has ‘gotta prove something’
New LSU starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has some big shoes to fill.
He’ll be replacing the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner in Jayden Daniels after waiting several years for the opportunity to start. Nussmeier has impressed in limited action, but given the fact that he lacks Daniels’ mobility, it’s a safe assumption that the offense will look quite a bit different in 2024.
Regardless, Brian Kelly isn’t trying to put too much pressure on his new signal-caller. He said he doesn’t want Nussmeier to enter the spring game looking for too much to prove.
“Well, I think he’s gotta settle into the position and not feel like ‘I’ve gotta go prove something,’” Kelly said, per On3.
Kelly explained that Nussmeier has a tendency to force things, and he wants him to instead play naturally and loosely, letting things come to him.
“He comes in as the starter and just let the offense come to you,” Kelly said. “Sometimes he has a tendency that he wants to push things a little bit too far. Let it come to you. And I think every day it’s about feeling more comfortable with the offense. It’s kind of, you know these things from playing the position, touchdown or check down. You hear that all the time. And every play doesn’t need to be a touchdown. We can check it down here and there.
“And I think as he continues to feel more comfortable with the starting position. I think you’ll see him kind of settle into that.”
Nussmeier’s debut has been highly anticipated, but it’s clear Kelly is trying to avoid putting too much pressure on his new starter.
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