David Leong-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
Garrett Nussmeier came back to LSU to compete for championships in November. He came back to compete for a Heisman Trophy in November.
He’s competing for his job.
Nussmeier was benched Saturday in Tuscaloosa in favor of sophomore Michael Van Buren who finished the game. On Monday, interim head coach Frank Wilson confirmed that both quarterbacks will play in the game against Arkansas on Saturday.
Sixth-year senior Jacobian Guillory said the senior quarterback has taken things as well as possible this week.
“Like a pro. Seriously like a pro,” Guillory said. “(Nussmeier)’s been showing up early like he always does. He shows up early, leaves last. He’s handling it well. He understands that at the end of the day, he just has to play well, and he will. I truly believe that.”
Saturday wasn’t a statistical disaster for Nussmeier. He completed 18-of-21 passes. A deeper look into the numbers suggests why LSU struggled to move the ball despite the high completion percentage.
Eleven of Nussmeier’s 18 completions came on throws behind the line of scrimmage, and only three traveled 10 yards down the field. He only attempted one pass that traveled 20 yards, the incomplete fade to Trey’Dez Green down the right sideline.
LSU’s offense bogged down with almost nothing but quick throws and screens.
Van Buren didn’t make a major impact in terms of scoring. LSU mustered just a field goal during his four drives. He did show his quickness and averaged 10 yards per completion in his first meaningful action as a Tiger.
“He was composed,” said senior wide receiver Zavion Thomas. “At the end of the day, he’s been there before. He’s played quite a few games at Mississippi State. So, it wasn’t new to him. We had confidence that he was going to go out there and be him, and that’s what he did.”
Both quarterbacks are taking reps this week, but Wilson said Monday that Nussmeier is the expected starter. Arkansas ranks 125th in the country in total defense and scoring defense. The Razorbacks have lost seven straight games and allowed 32-plus points in every one of them.
LSU hasn’t scored more than 25 points this season against an FBS school. That thought would have been unfathomable when Nussmeier announced his return to LSU. He currently ranks third on LSU’s all-time passing list with Joe Burrow (who only played two seasons to Nussmeier’s five) in his sight for second.
Saturday had to be among the toughest nights of his college career. Now he’ll be tasked with responding.
“Nuss is a professional,” Thomas said. “He’s still with the team. He’s still our leader. He’s still our quarterback 1 at the end of the day. His mindset is the same as ours. Keep fighting. We’ve got to win. We’ve still got three games, possibly four. So, we have to go out with a bang.”
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