His familiarity with Luke Fickell and Wisconsin helped Alabama’s preparation for the Badgers in a 42-10 victory.
Colin Hitschler will be depended upon again for next week versus Louisiana State University. The co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Crimson Tide knows Tigers’ starting quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier. He the son of former Alabama offensive coordinator, Doug Nussmeier. Doug was on Nick Saban’s staff in 2012 and 2013, assisting the Tide to a BCS National Championship in 2012. Hitschler coached against the younger Nussmeier to finish the 2023 season in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Nussmeier showed he was ready to take over for the departing Jayden Daniels. He totaled 395 passing yards and three touchdowns to one interception in a 35-31 win for the Tigers over the Badgers. Hitschler said Nussmeier’s performance against Wisconsin was his ‘coming out party.’ He is excited for the challenge to face the LSU signal-caller as a member of Alabama.
“He is obviously a very dynamic quarterback,” Hitschler said Wednesday about Nussmeier. “He has had a great year. He has played for a long time in a great system and he has great weapons around him. It is a fun challenge for a secondary.”
Nussmeier, a Louisiana native, is one of the best quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference.
He has 2,627 passing yards and 20 touchdowns to nine picks. Nussmeier has six 300-plus yard passing performances in eight games and seven matchups with 2+ touchdown passes — including a season-high six touchdowns versus Nicholls State.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder has sharp decision-making and stretches the field well.
“When you play that many snaps, you continuously get better,” Hitschler said about Nussmeier’s growth. “He has probably thrown for as many yards as anyone in college football right now. He is fun to watch on TV and we are excited for the challenge to play against him.”
Hitschler and Alabama’s secondary has to be on its A game against Nussmeier and LSU’s offense.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
