Colton Nussmeier, the younger brother of NFL rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, was ruled ineligible to play high school football in Texas. As of right now, he will not be allowed to play next season for Denton Ryan.
The high-profile signal-caller does have the opportunity to appeal but his chances of winning the appeal are slim.
This latest high school football ruling stems from Nussmeier’s decision to switch schools during the offseason. Athletes are not allowed to transfer if it is only for athletic purposes.
Who is Colton Nussmeier?
As I already mentioned, Colton is the younger brother of Garrett. His older brother played college football at LSU and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 249th overall pick in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Their father is Doug Nussmeier. He is the current offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints.
Colton Nussmeier is a Class of 2027 recruit who recently committed to Georgia over schools like Alabama, Michigan, Indiana, Auburn, Texas Tech and SMU. Arkansas and UCLA were considered the top suitors beyond the Bulldogs.
At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Nussmeier is rated as a four-star prospect. He ranks as the No. 12 player at his position, the No. 34 player in Texas and a top-200 player in his class. Although the towering southpaw missed some time with a knee injury as a junior, his highlight tape shows a lot of promise and he still managed to throw for 1,382 yards with 12 touchdowns and only one interception.
Nussmeier has a live arm with easy velocity, steps into throws from a wide base and can gain yardage as a scrambler even though he is not a true duel-threat quarterback. By nature of his football upbringing, he is especially good at diagnosing coverages and avoids interceptions. The Bulldogs will be thrilled to get him on campus. His stock will only continue to rise this upcoming fall.
… if he is allowed to play, that is …
Why was the Georgia quarterback commit ruled ineligible to play high school football at Denton Ryan in Texas?
Colton Nussmeier transferred from Flower Mound Marcus to Denton Ryan during the offseason. The Raiders are three-time state champions and have not lost more than two games in each of the last three years. They are one of the more dominant high school football teams in Texas. Their new quarterback made them an immediate title contender.
However, he has been ruled ineligible.
A district executive committee voted on Nussmeier’s eligibility on Monday night. The vote was a tie at 3-3. Three yes. Three no.
As a result of the no decision, the ruling then defers back to the Prior Athletic Participation Form. The PAPF stated that Nussmeier moved for athletic purposes. He was in turn ruled ineligible. His status for next season remains unclear.
The Nussmeier family continues to insist that they moved from Flower Mound to Denton for family reasons. Athletics was not a factor in the decision. They signed a lease on a house in Denton in April. They are in the process of selling their home in Flower Mound.
Although Nussmeier ability to appeal the ruling to the University Interscholastic League, the UIL does not allow transfers for athletics. It is unlikely to be overturned.
That leaves Colton Nussmeier in an awkward position. He likely won’t be allowed to play for Denton. As of this writing, Nussmeier does not have a program at which he can play high school football in 2026. There are about two months until Week 1.
Could he still go back to Flower Mound? Will he leave the state all together? Is another district in Texas willing to rule him eligible at a different school? We’ll have to wait and see.