Interview: 4-Star 2021 Texas QB Garrett Nussmeier Talks LSU and Penn State Visits

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

If you are not familiar with the name Garrett Nussmeier, get accustomed to hearing it a lot, especially once he matriculates to the collegiate level. The 6-2, 180-pound, quarterback sliced and diced 6A Texas defenses during his sophomore season throwing for 1,557 yards with 12 touchdowns committing just five interceptions in 218 pass attempts. Marcus High School is having a fantastic 2019 season led by their four-star junior dart thrower. Nussmeier has hit 121 of 189 passes for 1,600 yards with 17 touchdowns in a 5-1 start to the 2019 schedule. The action in the Flower Mound pocket is attracting a bevy of next level attention with 19 scholarship offers dropped.

In an RNG catch-up interview, I got a few minutes in with Nussmeier between his visit to LSU on Saturday and the upcoming trip to University Park to see the Nittany Lions take on the Michigan Wolverines.

*Click link for Aug. 27, 2019, RNG interview with Garrett Nussmeier

Interview

Garrett, the Marauders have been true to the nickname this year on offense beating up the opposition for 40 points per game. What is clicking so well for you guys on offense this season?

“We started off slow, because our chemistry was not high. We were a group of players who had not meshed yet. As we started to play games, we built chemistry. Now we know each other’s positives and negatives. That has translated on the scoreboard and that has helped us win a lot of games recently.”

You guys run the Air Raid offense. How are you getting even more comfortable within the offense this season allowing more opportunities to make plays?

“I’ve been in the system for a year now, I know it well, and we have changed stuff. I know all the plays, and now I can build off each play knowing what the defense will try to do to stop us. I know where to go with the football.”

Last time we spoke I bragged on you about the magic you have on the field with your play. Watching reel on you, looks like the magic is still strong with you this season making Houdini plays on broken down attempts. You may have already answered this, but what do you attribute that skill to? How are you making plays when all looks lost?

“That comes from never giving up and that I keep fighting. I pride myself on not being stupid, I know when to throw it away. If you put the game film on you will see I have matured on that. I moved around and got away last year, but over the offseason I got my squat max up and I am faster now. I can avoid pressure and extend plays. I am smart but creative, and I trust my receivers.”

For you personally, how is your game coming along from a year ago?

“The place where I am maturing the most is within the offense. You can tell I have more control over what is going on. You can tell I know where to go with the ball off pre-snap and post-snap reads.”

How are defenses trying to defend against you or throw you off your game?

“There are two strategies I am seeing, drop eight – teams have done that but it has not worked because my offensive line gives me time to throw the ball against three; I find the hole in the defense. The other strategy is bringing pressure. When they do that, we have hit them on quick passes. Our offensive line has done well against max pressure and our running backs are doing a great job picking up the blitz. We are hitting them vertically.”

Knowing what they are trying to do, how have you countered the schemes to prevail the way you have?

“We watch a lot of film. In Texas, you can get a lot of background on teams by watching film. We study a lot. We never change our offense. We take pride in what we do. We scheme to what they do poorly. If we have a strength, we will attack their weakness with that strength.”

Nice. With recruiting, which schools are showing interest?

“The two schools that are showing interest but have not offered are Purdue and Tennessee.”

You have a ton of offers, how many are you holding now?

“I have 19 offers.”

Nussmeier’s Offer Sheet (19): Boise State, Boston College, Colorado, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Louisville, LSU, Michigan State, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon State, Penn State, SMU, South Carolina, TCU, UTSA, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest

This fall, have you taken any visits?

“Yes, sir. I have been to Georgia for the Notre Dame game and to LSU this past weekend for the Florida game.”

Tell me about the Georgia visit. That had to be great for the Notre Dame game.

“The visit went really well. Georgia is a cool place with a cool environment. I like their offense. It was a cool visit.”

And LSU?

“It went really well. That atmosphere is insane. There is nothing like it. I like what they are doing with the offense under Coach (Joe) Brady (pass game coordinator) and Coach (Steve) Ensminger (offensive coordinator).”

Any more fantastic trips planned?

“Yes, sir. I am heading to Penn State this weekend. I might go to North Carolina by the end of the season.”

Heading to Penn State, what has you excited about that trip?

“I like their offense; I am excited to see it live. I have watched them on TV. It is the White Out game (vs. Michigan); I am excited for that too.”

Back to football. Since the opening loss to Bowie (28-14), the team has looked impressive. You guys got tested a little last time out against Hebron (24-14). How will that close game help you and the team over the next four?

“There was something special about that. We lost our running back on our second possession of the game. We had to rally without him, and he is really good. It proved that we fight. We will do what we have to do to win. Our backup stepped up. That is what the playoffs are like; you have to keep fighting through adversity. That game was a good experience for us to have in the regular season.”

Coppell (2-4) comes to town on Friday. What are you expecting from the Cowboys defense?

“I’m expecting a physical game. They got us last year. They have a lot of size and they have a good defense. We will see how it goes.”

Garrett, great catching up with you today. Good luck on Friday and enjoy the visit to Penn State.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Nussmeier family; Garrett Nussmeier at LSU and Georgia