Prep quarterbacks often take winding road to the field.
The best two quarterbacks in LSU’s recent history came via the transfer. Garrett Nussmeier stayed in one place for five years, but he had to wait his turn. That’s a rarity.
Because of that, it’s difficult to serious discuss high school quarterback recruits. At one point, they felt like the lifeblood of the program. They represented the future of the football team. Now, they feel like a coin flip.
LSU’s 2026 roster has three quarterbacks. None of them took their first college course in Baton Rouge.
All of that sets the stage for my discussion of Peyton Houston. The math suggests he won’t start a game for LSU. His attitude suggests he just might. And that’s a promising thing.
Houston has dazzled on the camp circuit this summer. He showed out at the Elite 11 workouts and The Opening, ripping a 67-yard pass in the long ball competition. He also piloted his team to the championship where he was named Alpha Dog, or MVP.
A year ago, it looked like LSU was going to have to choose among three prep signal callers with some ties to the school. Colton Nussmeier’s older brother was the face of the program. Elijah Haven grew up in town. Houston was a Louisiana product, too. Landing two of that crew was always a longshot.
Houston was the pick for the old staff, and the new one has agreed. That appears to be a wise decision.
That has nothing to do with Haven or Nussmeier. Both appear to be excellent prospects. Houston does, too.
At 5-foot-10, many will doubt Houston’s ceiling. While height has been devalued to an extent over the years with the successes of Drew Brees, Bryce Young, Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson, the prototype remains 6-foot-3. Houston will never be that.
He’s got everything else.
His arm strength was obvious at The Opening. He’s been wildly productive at Evangel. He’s got the confidence to stare Nussmeier and Haven down and commit to LSU, and he’s never waivered from that pledge. Statistically, he’ll light up Louisiana scoreboards one more time this fall and then enroll at LSU.
Husan Longstreet and Landen Clark may be waiting on him, but he’ll undoubtedly throw his hat in the ring to be Sam Leavitt’s successor. At this rate, he may have a fifth star near his name when he does.
