LSU's 2023 Offseason Outlook: Quarterbacks
In this story:
LSU’s quarterback room is set for the foreseeable future headlined by Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier, but what does the offseason have in store for the two signal-callers?
Early-enrollee Rickie Collins looked the part during spring camp, but it’s clear it’ll take some time until he’s game ready. As for Daniels and Nussmeier, it’s clear who your QB1 and QB2 will be this season with Daniels gearing up for year two under center for the Tigers.
Where did LSU’s quarterbacks struggle last season? When did they hit their stride? How can they continue to improve this offseason?
A dive into Daniels and Nussmeier’s game with a few select areas Collins can improve in:
Jayden Daniels - Starter
The first few games of the season were challenging for Daniels. Incorrect reads and hasty decisions halted offensive success with many of the difficulties coming when Daniels would rush out of the pocket to make the “hero ball” play.
Fast forward to Week 8 against Ole Miss and it became a completely different story for the signal-caller carrying into the rest of the season. Daniels looked much calmer in the pocket while sitting back and allowing for plays to develop. There is credit to be given to him, but his offensive line helped carry much of the load as well.
When Daniels is given time in the pocket, he makes the correct reads down the field and escapes when needed. Tallying three rushing touchdowns against Florida and carrying that rushing success into the Ole Miss matchup, Daniels became much more aware in the pocket while making the accurate read. This success carried into the rest of the season.
Jayden Daniels: Going Through Progressions
Another major challenge to start the season was Daniels’ inability to go through each progression and find the open wide receiver. This certainly changed over the last few games of the season for the better. We saw Daniels hit his third and even fourth read at times, specifically in the matchup against Florida where it all appeared to come together.
With a receiver room that played up to six guys a night, continuity formed and the Tigers made a late run to win the SEC West. LSU will have another deep wide receiver room this season with several returnees for Daniels to work with.
Jayden Daniels: Utilizing his Dual-Threat Ability
The first few weeks of the season saw Daniels running for his life when given no time in the pocket for plays to develop. After eight weeks of growth, he began to put together masterpiece after masterpiece where it all began to click.
Yes, there were a few hiccups along the way, but Daniels proved he’s a true dual-threat quarterback, especially in the Tigers’ last few contests. Racking up 11 total touchdowns on the ground, he threw different looks at opposing defenses to keep them on their toes.
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and Daniels became the perfect fit for one another and it’ll certainly carry into 2023. A duo many believed could be lethal slowly proved to be one of the best in the country.
Garrett Nussmeier - Backup
In the SEC Championship Game, LSU fans got a taste of what redshirt freshman quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is capable of. It wasn’t perfect, but the youngster showcased his dynamic game and what the future could look like.
Nussmeier broke the record for most passing yards in the second half of a game in LSU history with 298 against Georgia.
Head Coach Brian Kelly walked away impressed with what his “gunslinger” was capable of. Despite a few mishaps here and there, his aggressive style of play was a major takeaway.
“He did some really good things. He's called upon to come in and be aggressive, which he was,” Kelly said. “For a guy that's coming in off not playing a lot of football, really pleased.
“Look, there's a learning experience out there. There's some throws that obviously he'd like to have back. Look, he's got a quarterback mentality that he wants to be aggressive. As Malik said, he's pushing the ball down the field, giving these guys a chance to make some plays down the field, and they did. Sometimes there are plays where they're 50/50 balls, but he gives them a chance to make some plays. He did a nice job with that.”
Nussmeier totaled 800 passing yards on 52 completions in 2022 with five touchdowns and four interceptions. It was a small sample size for the redshirt freshman, showcasing his elite arm at times, but decision making will ultimately be what needs to improve for the youngster as time goes on.
It’s clear Nussmeier will be the Tigers’ backup this season before taking on starting duties in 2024, but to have a player of his caliber in your back pocket is a win for LSU.
Rickie Collins - Third String
Collins, a Louisiana native, came to Baton Rouge with a ton of hype and it’s for good reason. He’s a true star on the gridiron. Of course there’s always that learning curve once arriving to college, and after coming to LSU a semester early, there were a few expected hiccups.
Collins has improved his release while working side-by-side with QB’s coach Joe Sloan and it’s expected he continues taking strides in the right direction this offseason. Look for the highly-touted signal-caller to thrive in his role this season as he gets acclimated to the college game behind both Daniels and Nussmeier.
While continuing to improve his decision making and release, Collins has the chance to be special for the purple and gold when his number is called.
