He tops his list.
Jordan Rodgers Didn't Hesitate Naming the Best QB in the Country originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
This offseason saw some of the top quarterbacks from the 2024 college football season transition to the NFL. Notably, Miami Hurricanes' Cam Ward was selected first overall in the NFL Draft. Other standout players who moved on include Shedeur Sanders from the Colorado Buffaloes, Jaxson Dart from the Ole Miss Rebels and Jalen Milroe from the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The competition for the title of top quarterback in college football is wide open. Clemson Tigers' Cade Klubnik is generating a lot of excitement, along with LSU Tigers' Garrett Nussmeier, Miami Hurricanes' Carson Beck and Texas Longhorns' Arch Manning.
However, on "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Jordan Rodgers stated that he believes the quarterback who passed for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last year is the best in the nation.
"I think Garrett Nussmeier is the best quarterback in the entire country," Rodgers said. "I think he's ready for a monster year. Partly because of who he is and what we saw from him last year. I think (he's the) best quarterback under pressure. Being able to create, navigate the pocket, throw off platform, be accurate in tight windows, I think he excels at that."
Rodgers expressed his enthusiasm for the players added alongside Nussmeier, highlighting former Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Nic Anderson, former Kentucky Wildcat Barion Brown and returning players Aaron Anderson and Chris Hilton Jr.
Aaron led the team with 884 yards and five touchdowns. Hilton Jr. contributed with 243 yards and three touchdowns. Brown had 1,528 yards and 11 touchdowns over three seasons at Kentucky, but Rodgers believes he was underutilized. Nic was injured last season at Oklahoma, but as a redshirt freshman in 2023, he recorded 798 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Nussmeier faced challenges during LSU's three-game losing streak, completing 56.8% of his passes for a total of 904 yards, along with four touchdowns and five interceptions. However, he demonstrated his resilience by leading the Tigers to three consecutive victories afterward, where he completed 72.5% of his passes for 922 yards, with seven touchdowns and only one interception.
LSU begins the 2025 season against the Clemson Tigers on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names Major College Football QB Who Had 'Awkward Moments' Last Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
