Alabama DC tells why LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier can be dangerous

Oct 26, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) looks to pass the ball in the fourth quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.

Alabama football is set to face a LSU football team Saturday that will be led by a new face in interim head coach Frank Wilson after the Tigers fired Brian Kelly after a 5-3 start to the season. But a familiar face in quarterback Garrett Nussmeier remains.

This will be the second time that the Tide will face Nussmeier as a starter, but Alabama had no problem with the quarterback in Baton Rouge last year, when the Crimson Tide downed LSU in Death Valley 42-13.

However, after finishing the season with over 4,000 passing yards, Nussmeier entered the 2025 football season as a Heisman favorite. Although those dreams are looking a little unrealistic now, as he’s dealt with some injuries and struggles so far.

Nussmeier dealt with an abdominal strain in fall camp and then suffered a high ankle sprain in the Tigers’ game against South Carolina. As he’s dealt with these injuries, he hasn’t quite been living up to the hype from preseason, as he’s only sitting at No. 10 in passing yards and No. 8 in passing touchdowns in the SEC through Week 10.

Although some around the college football world may be beginning to write him off, Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack certainly is not, as he knows the potential that Nussmeier has.

“You watch Garrett, where he was a year ago to the decisions that he’s making now, he does a better job of making throws under duress,” Wommack said. “He does a better job of taking care of the football. He’s got some real toughness and moxy to make critical throws, even when it’s not a clean pocket.”

Alabama will need to succeed at getting to Nussmeier in the backfield. He is good at making the critical throws, but the Tide’s defense has been successful at creating pressure, and if that continues, then Alabama will continue to see success at forcing mistakes and turnovers from quarterbacks, while also creating sacks in the backfield.

As Nussmeier has been sacked 14 times and sits with 5 interceptions on the season, both of which also rank top 10 among SEC quarterbacks, Wommack and the Tide’s defense will hope to take advantage of some of the Tigers’ weaknesses while keeping up a trend of creating pressure and forcing turnovers when Alabama hosts LSU on Saturday.