Nussmeier, Swinson top season-long PFF grades

By Hunt Palmer

All season long we’ve brought you the weekly Top 5 and Bottom 5 players according to Pro Football Focus.

Now that LSU has wrapped up its 9-4 season, let’s look at the starters and key contributors who graded the highest and lowest in 2024.

HIGHEST GRADES:

1. Garrett Nussmeier, QB – 83.5
2. Bradyn Swinson, DE – 83.0
3. Zy Alexander, CB – 82.2
4. Garrett Dellinger, LG – 73.5
5. Caden Durham, RB – 73.4

Nussmeier’s production this season was second best in the history of the school. He threw for over 4,000 yards and topped the 300-yard mark eight times. His grade was 75 or better in six games, and he never dipped below 60. Coincidentally, Nussmeier’s lowest grade was 60.5 which is where he graded out in both losses to Texas A&M and Alabama. His 89.5 against Baylor was his best grade.

Swinson blossomed into LSU’s best pass rusher. His season-long pass rush grade was a sparkling 88.6, and his 71.1 against the run was solid as well. He registered a team-best nine sacks and was credited with 42 hurries. That will garner significant draft attention this spring.

Very clearly Zy Alexander emerged as LSU’s top cover man. He missed a couple of games due to the concussion he suffered against UCLA. His coverage grade on the season was 82.4. No one else was even close.

Dellinger is an elite interior pass blocker. He graded 84.6 in pass blocking which was actually higher than Will Campbell’s 80.9. Dellinger allowed just three hurries without giving up a single sack on 290 pass blocking reps. Not surprisingly, he wasn’t as good in the running game. No one along LSU’s front was. His 69.3 grade isn’t terrible, but pass blocking was his strength.

Entering August, Durham was a longshot to see much playing time. Josh Williams and John Emery returned as sixth year players, and Kaleb Jackson was a trendy breakout pick. Durham was fantastic. He forced eight missed tackles at South Carolina. His season total there finished at 27. He busted 17 runs of 10-plus yards and finished with a rushing grade of 76.2 while nursing an injury much of the season. He’s got the makings of a really good SEC back.

LOWEST GRADES

1. Paul Mubenga, G – 46.8
2. DJ Chester, C – 50.6
3. Shone Washington, DT – 56.0
4. Jardin Gilbert, S – 56.9
5. Major Burns, S – 57.6

These grades won’t surprise many. The interior of LSU’s offensive line had its issues, especially when Dellinger went out with the high ankle sprain.

Mubenga really, really struggled in his first two full time games against Alabama (43.6) and Florida (46.3). However, he did rebound. His Vanderbilt grade was a 63.8. He was a freshman who was not supposed to be out there for 438 snaps this season, but now he has that experience to grow from.

Chester’s time at center is probably over. Braelin Moore likely takes that spot in 2025, and Chester can fight for a guard spot. The Baylor game was Chester’s best of the season. Chester’s run blocking was steady. Every grade came between 48.6 and 59.8. He graded in the 50s in run blocking in 11 of 13 games. Pass blocking was up and down. He graded 78.6 against Alabama and 73.8 against Arkansas. He came in at 23.8 at South Carolina and 49.1 at Florida. Chester has great size and now has a year of starting experience. We’ll see where he lines up in the spring.

Washington was a reserve. He played significant snaps Week 2 through 7. Then his playing time dwindled as Dominick McKinley got healthier.

Then there’s safety. Brian Kelly talked about safety almost weekly. It was just a weakness of the defense. Burns played the STAR. Gilbert played with injury. Young players played some early. Then the older players took over. Gilbert graded in the mid 50s overall, against the run, tackling and in coverage. Same goes for Burns. Some help is on the way at safety.