By Tony Thomas
This week, the LSU Tigers begin spring practice in year four under head coach Brian Kelly. The Tigers return experience on both sides of the ball, most importantly at quarterback. Garrett Nussmeier returns after leading LSU to an 9-4 record in 2024.
As the Tigers prepare for another thrilling season of football, passionate LSU fans want answers to two questions from their beloved purple and gold-clad gridiron warriors.
First, who will have the inside track to be the backup to Nussmeier, and can LSU win their 2025 season-opener?
Who Will Back Up Nussmeier?
Nussmeier was a 4,000-yard passer last season and threw 29 touchdowns and completed 64 percent of his passes. But he threw 12 INTs, five of which came during a three-game losing streak that took the Tigers out of contention for the Southeastern Conference title and the expanded College Football Playoff.
That said, Nussmeier is arguably the top returning quarterback in the SEC.
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The question is, who will be his backup? After some transfers and attrition, the favorite would have been Colin Hurley. But in January, Hurley was severely injured in a car accident and is still recovering from those injuries.
In an interview with the Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge, La., and reported in a story by Zac Nagy on si.com, Brian Kelly said:
“It’s uncertain if redshirt-freshman quarterback Colin Hurley will return for spring practice. Hurley is still at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, Kelly said, after suffering undisclosed injuries in a January car crash,” according to the Advocate.
With Hurley’s status uncertain, the Tigers will look to Mississippi State transfer quarterback Michael Van Buren and converted running back/defensive back Ju’Juan Johnson to provide depth behind Nussmeier.
Van Buren started 10 games for the Bulldogs last season. He completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,886 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven INTs.
Johnson was a prolific quarterback in high school in Louisiana, throwing for a state record 14,451 yards and 171 touchdowns. Both Van Buren and Johnson will need to play well in the spring and create some separation from each other.
Can LSU Win Its 2025 season opener?
LSU is 0-5 in season openers since the National Championship season of 2019 and a 55-3 drubbing of Georgia Southern.
This season, LSU is on the road for the first game to take on the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Clemson Tigers. LSU fans will say it is not the real Death Valley, but it is still a tough environment to play in. Clemson returns as many as 20 starters, balanced on both sides of the ball.
LSU will counter with returning experience at the offensive skill positions and seven starters on defense. In addition, the Tigers will have talent from the No. 6 transfer portal class in the country.
💨💨💨
Aaron Anderson WILL. NOT. BE. CAUGHT.
📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/L7m2FyTPVh
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) October 27, 2024
Tigers vs. Tigers, in a venue called Death Valley should be a good game. Can the Tigers break the curse of the season opener? We shall see.
LSU begins spring practice on March 8.
