LSU makes decision on starting QB for Texas Bowl game against Kansas State
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
LSU entered Tuesday with 1 scholarship quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier, available for the Texas Bowl vs. Kansas State. His backup on the 2-deep depth chart released to the media by the team was walk-on Tavion Faulk.
But the Tigers will instead turn to Jontre Kirklin to start at quarterback, it announced prior to the contest:
#LSU is set to start WR Jontre Kirklin at QB.
It will be his first time playing QB since he left Lutcher High as a state champion in the 2017 signing class.
— Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) January 5, 2022
Kirkin has made 4 catches for 49 yards and played in 8 games for the Tigers this year. In 2020, he made 13 catches for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns.
As a freshman and sophomore, Kirklin received reps as a defender, including in the defensive backfield in 2018. But to this point, he’s not been called upon to throw a pass in a Tigers uniform—until Tuesday, that is.
He threw for 7,468 yards and 97 touchdowns during his high school career, including 2,543 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior. He was also a 3,000-yard rusher during his tenure as he registered back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons as a junior and senior.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
