The LSU Tigers took a big swing in 2025 recruiting but missed a key target. Yes, 5-star Bryce Underwood was locked in all year — until the Michigan Wolverines swooped in and flipped him in November. Well, it was a brutal loss, no doubt. But in December, LSU regrouped fast, securing key positions. See, when the early signing period hit, 23 high school prospects put pen to paper for the Tigers. But Brian Kelly isn’t done just yet. And meanwhile, Oregon is stealing the spotlight. A national analyst just dropped a bold take on the Ducks’ recruiting — and let’s just say, they’re making serious noise.Josh Newberg dropped some insight on LSU’s bold recruiting moves in the February 23 episode of On3 Recruits — including Brian Kelly’s $137K NIL transfer portal splash. Well, Newberg broke it down, saying, “Let’s talk LSU now. Class recruiting ranking at the high school level: No. 9. Transfer portal index ranking: No. 6. Now, LSU’s on-field performance last year was not up to the Tigers’ standard. That’s why Brian Kelly took action this offseason. The Tigers went out and added 16 new players, including multiple projected starters on the defensive line and in the secondary — areas where they struggled in 2024.”And Kelly didn’t just revamp the defense — he made sure QB1 Garrett Nussmeier was protected. As Newberg pointed out, “They also managed to majorly upgrade the weapons around Garrett Nussmeier, and did so without losing any projected impact players on the current roster.” Now we are sure, losing Cade Phillips and Underwood stung. But let’s not focus on the losses. See, LSU still secured a pair of five-stars, finished with the nation’s No. 9 class, and locked in 14 four-stars and seven three-stars. Literally, impressive.And the national analyst put it best, saying, “From top to bottom, this should be LSU’s most talented roster since Kelly took over. Now, they just have to prove it on the field.” To be honest, LSU’s 2025 recruiting class is loaded with offensive firepower. Well, the Tigers landed top-ranked defensive back DJ Pickett, winning a battle against Miami, Oregon, and Bulldogs. On top of that, in the trenches, they secured offensive linemen, Carius Curne and Will Campbell — key pieces to keep the offense rolling. As of now, with talent stacking up, the Tigers are gearing up for a statement season.Although everything seems to be falling into place, here’s the twist — Nussmeier’s fate is still up in the air. Even with better weapons around him, his grip on the job could still slip.LSU Tigers’ QB1 situation under Brian KellyGarrett Nussmeier was a quarterback who kept fans on the edge of their seats in 2024 — for better or worse. At times, he flashed brilliance, making plays that left defenses scrambling. But his flaws were just as glaring, especially when the pressure was on.And his struggles against Alabama and Texas A&M tell the story. See, against A&M, in a heartbreaking 38-23 loss, he threw three interceptions in the second half, all of which were converted to touchdowns. And then came Bama — three more costly mistakes, including a brutal end-zone pick that sealed a 42-13 defeat. So, moments of genius? Sure. But the turnovers cost LSU big.And given that ESPN’s Matt Miller isn’t sold on Nussmeier, who said the QB is “inconsistent reading the field and makes some late decisions that are backbreakers. I think his lack of size and inexperience would have really cost him when scouts dug in all the way on his tape.”As of now, statistically, Nussmeier holds his ground, ranking 14th with a solid 78.2 QBR. On top of that, he knows how to pick his passes. Along with that, short and mid-range? Sharp. But Nussmeier’s deep throws? That’s a different story. Well, his vertical throw QBR sits at a rough 21.6 — 117th in FBS. So, that’s a glaring weakness, proving he struggles to stretch the field.Let’s now see if Garrett can overcome his shortcomings and establish himself as the Tigers’ best quarterback to date under Brian Kelly’s tutelage.The post National Analyst Clears Stance on Brian Kelly’s $137K Move as Garrett Nussmeier’s LSU Fortunes See a Twist appeared first on EssentiallySports.