LSU Football names Garrett Nussmeier historic No. 18, Harold Perkins to wear No. 7

By Andon Brabham, Executive Producer

August 24, 2025

LSU football redshirt junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) and teammates celebrate after scoring a touchdown Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, during play against South Alabama at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

LSU Football has continued the historic lineage of No. 18, this time handing it to senior signal-caller Garrett Nussmeier.

Nussmeier becomes the first quarterback to dawn the number since Matt Mauck, who began the tradition in 2003 when the Tigers won the National Championship. Since Mauck’s wearing of the number, it has been passed to leaders of the team, marking the tradition of high character senior leaders holding the number

The Lake Charles native will now dawn the number worn last year by running back Josh Williams and linebacker Greg Penn III.

Nussmeier has spent all five of his college seasons at LSU, taking over from Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Nussmeier passed for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Tigers to nine wins last season.

Nussmeier was also named one of the Tigers’ permanent captains alongside linebacker Whit Weeks.

Weeks racked up 120 tackles with three and a half sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception, before getting injured in LSU’s Texas Bowl victory over Baylor.

LSU will rotate two players alongside Nussmeier and Weeks for the customary four captains on each team.

The other historic number at LSU, the No. 7, given to dynamic playmakers like Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Will Campbell and Leonard Fournette, will be worn by linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. for the second straight year.

Perkins wore the number along with Will Campbell last year, the first time the number had been shared since the legacy began with Patrick Peterson in 2008.

The Texas product tallied 16 total tackles and a fumble recovery in 4 games, before suffering a season-ended ACL tear against UCLA.

Perkins will look to return to the form of his freshman and sophomore years, where he tallied over 70 tackles and over five sacks in each year, under second year Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker.

These leaders will look to push the Tigers to a week one victory over Clemson Saturday, ending a five-game week one losing streak.

Nussmeier, Weeks and Perkins will take the field in Clemson’s Death Valley at 6:30 p.m. on ABC.

About the Contributor

Payton Prichard, Reveille Multimedia Editor

Why did you join the Reveille?

I joined to have a creative outlet and explore sides of photography I never had before. I’m glad I did because I found my passion (and changed my major to Journalism).

What positions have you held at the Reveille?

I was a photographer for one year and I’m now the Multimedia Editor!

What’s your favorite thing about working at the Reveille?

Traveling with our Sports staff for away games. Not only have I gotten to make lasting friendships with my coworkers, I’ve also had the chance to see an LSU championship or two!

What’s your favorite story that you’ve worked on so far?

My favorite assignment was when I covered the 2025 Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. I was there for a little shy of two weeks and had the chance to shoot eight strong teams fighting for a championship title. I’m very proud of the content I produced from my time there and very happy the Tigers finished on top!

What do you hope to do after graduation?

If I get my way, I’ll be a Creative Content Producer or Team Photographer for a National Hockey League (NHL) team! Traveling with the Carolina Hurricanes or the New Jersey Devils for a literal job would be a dream come true.