The lineage of quarterbacks in the Nussmeier clan remains strong. Former NFL vet and now QB coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Doug Nussmeier, has meshed his genetics and acumen to get a bit of a conveyor belt going. Elder son Garrett’s escapades down in Baton Rouge are well-documented. It seems like after bestowing some love on the SEC, old man Doug is now seeking to share it around a little more. His other son, Colton Nussmeier, could be carrying the B1G crest in the near future.

They say what goes around comes around. That labored cliche seems to be ringing true in Ann Arbor. Doug Nussmeier’s stint as offensive coordinator at Michigan back in 2014 appears to have paid dividends for over a decade. Sherrone Moore and co. have reportedly been approached with the proposition of onboarding Colton. Poised to be part of the 2027 class, Colton Nussmeier currently plies his trade at Marcus High in Flower Mound, Texas.

The aforementioned cliche is transpiring into reality in more ways than one. A reality that’s pretty morbid if you’re Brian Kelly. Right off the bat, this Nussmeier revelation is pretty hysterical unless you’re someone with an LSU persuasion. One can’t help but correlate this with the infamous Bryce Underwood saga. Brian Kelly seemingly had everything in place, yet he couldn’t land his future face under center who opted for Michigan instead. A rather linear history appears to be repeating itself here, with Colton not seeking to continue his brother’s escapades. Colton has indeed received an offer from LSU.

Before the mind inadvertently sways in that direction, Colton Nussmeier’s pursuit via two of the biggest programs in the country isn’t a product of nepotism. He’s ranked the 3rd best QB in his class by the industry-standard 247Sports. As well as a top-20 player overall. The tutelage that comes from growing up with an NFL-calibre coach has shone through for both Colton and Garrett.

It remains to be seen which program will be the next tenant for this bloodline. This PTSD-inducing development will surely ruffle some feathers down at LSU. If there is any respite for Brian Kelly, it’s that the first iteration of this exact tussle with Sherrone Moore did come with a silver lining. Losing Bryce Underwood was not absolvable. However, it did lead to a potentially prosperous immediate future, even if it came at the expense of their long-term situation being inconspicuous.

Losing out on a QB to Michigan last time out wasn’t all bad for Brian Kelly

In the backdrop of this development is some good news stemming out of Baton Rouge. Garett Nussmeier has confirmed he’s foregoing the NFL draft to return to LSU for his final year of college eligibility. Nuss had been dropping subliminal hints in the lead-up to his decision. But Brian Kelly and the Tigers’ faithful can finally rest assured now. There is an alternate reality where something perceived as success would’ve led to a different outcome for Garrett.

If LSU had managed to land Bryce Underwood, Garrett Nussmeier might have already played his final game in an LSU jersey. As hyperbolic as that notion sounds, it’s etched in very tangible reasoning. Hypothesise this. Nuss was, by all accords, very close to declaring for the NFL instead. Couldn’t having potential competition for a starting spot from the no.1 recruit in the country tipped the scale on the other side?

Just like Bryce’s LSU commitment, that alternate reality has also dissipated into thin air. It is reasonable to think Brian Kelly would’ve had worse quarterback play in 2025 if he did indeed land Bryce. Michigan have had to sign Mikey Keene as a stop-gap, too, while Bryce develops. That said, the optics of it all were ugly. A program of LSU’s ilk cannot have that embarrassment repeat. With Garrett in-house for another year, it is best to believe there are people in his ear trying to get him to sway his brother.