This past week in Baton Rouge has been a whirlwind of emotion. Grief, resilience, and a touch of hope all rolled into one. Brian Kelly, still helping his LSU Tigers locker room cope with the sudden loss of wide receiver Kyren Lacy, has had to shoulder the emotional weight of far more than spring practice evaluations. And then came another scare—this one involving his youngest QB, Colin Hurley. The true freshman, who redshirted his first season after enrolling early, was involved in a serious car crash back in January. And on Saturday, three months after that life-altering moment, Hurley returned to campus, suiting up and stepping back into the fold for the first time.

LSU insider Matt Moscona, on After Further Review, framed Colin Hurley’s story within the larger context of LSU’s QB room and the long road the 17-year-old still has ahead. “Hurley is a guy that early enrolled a year ago and redshirted his first season in Baton Rouge, and by all accounts, is a long way to go,” Moscona said. “Talked with folks within the program, but you understand that’s also a guy that showed up on campus at 16 years old. Naturally, there’s a long way to go, so the missing spring is not ideal for a guy that needs all the reps, all the opportunities. But obviously, paramount was going to get healthy after a very serious car wreck. So what is paramount—most important—is that he’s healthy, he’s recovered. It’s awesome now you can get him back in the fold.” That fold, however, has shifted since January. LSU brought in Michael Van Buren as the presumed backup, and converted athlete Ju’Juan Johnson is now back in the quarterback room with a legitimate role.

The picture is crowded and competitive, and Hurley’s time will have to wait. “It’ll be interesting to see how and where he fits into the mix because you brought in Michael Van Buren, as we all know, who’s going to be the backup this year, and then you move Ju’Juan Johnson back to quarterback—he’s got a very legitimate role on this team, as Brian Kelly talked about, showed us over the weekend,” Moscona added.

“So, Colin Hurley—great to see him back out there. What his future at quarterback at LSU will be is going to be interesting, but considering we saw Garrett Nussmeier wait until his fourth year for an opportunity to play—now playing in his fourth and fifth year—you don’t rule anything out. There’s just so much fluidity at that position in college football. But 2025 likely isn’t going to be the year we see Colin Hurley make any type of a move for playing time. But could he be in the mix in 2026, provided he’s here? It’s worth watching. But most importantly—great to see.” Before any conversations about depth charts and development, Hurley had to survive. Officials responded to a call near South Quad Drive and Highland Road on the southern edge of LSU’s campus.

There, Hurley’s Dodge Charger had slammed into a tree. He was found breathing but unresponsive. Firefighters pulled him from the wreck, and he drifted in and out of consciousness. It was the kind of news that could freeze an entire campus—and for a program already grieving, it was another gut punch. But somehow, the kid from Jacksonville endured. And on Saturday, just months after the crash, he stepped onto the practice field once more, not just in attendance but competing.

Brian Kelly couldn’t help but glow when asked about Hurley’s return. “It was great to see Colin out there today,” Kelly said. “He was involved in—and you guys saw—he was involved in some of the one-on-ones. And man, he looks great physically. He’s got an unbelievably strong arm. It was just great to have him back out there. And just to have him here on campus is just a blessing—to get that young man back here and be in the kind of physical condition that he is—just exciting.”

In a sport driven by numbers, stars, and depth chart projections, it’s easy to forget the human element. Colin Hurley is still just 17.

LSU’s quarterback room is charged up

While the cause of the accident involving the LSU program remains unclear, officials have confirmed that impairment was not suspected at the time. And while there’s still some uncertainty off the field, things are crystal clear for Colin Hurley. He’s fired up and ready to roll.

“I can’t wait to get on campus,” Hurley said right before his arrival. “Go and compete, learn and do the best I can do. I can’t wait to go in there, do the best I can do and put forward the effort and time toward my team.” That kind of mindset? Exactly what Tiger fans want to hear.

And while Hurley’s bringing the fire, Garrett Nussmeier is bringing the vision. The seasoned signal-caller has his sights set on the big stage. What’s on his mind? January football. In other words, the College Football Playoff. That’s right—Nussmeier isn’t just thinking about wins; he’s thinking championships.

With a hungry young QB like Hurley entering the room and Nussmeier setting the tone, LSU’s quarterback room looks like a high-octane competition wrapped in championship-level expectations.