LSU hosting Vanderbilt transfer QB AJ Swann
The LSU football staff is hosting Vanderbilt transfer quarterback AJ Swann for a weekend visit, The Bengal Tiger has confirmed.
Swann arrived in Baton Rouge on Friday following a trip to South Carolina, and he’s set to remain on campus through the weekend. He’s joined on the trip to LSU by his parents.
Swann, who is tabbed by the On3 Industry Rankings as a Top 10 quarterback available in the NCAA Transfer Portal, is taking a serious look at both the Gamecocks and Tigers after officially entering the NCAA Transfer Portal on December 4.
A glimpse into AJ Swann’s time at Vanderbilt
Swann spent two seasons in Nashville, starting in all six games he appeared in this season while completing 196 passes for 1,457 yards and 12 touchdowns. Swann entered the 2023 campaign as Vanderbilt’s starting quarterback but was sidelined due to a right elbow injury.
For his two-year college career, Swann hit on 222-of-394 pass attempts for 2,731 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He made 12 starts in 15 games played.
As a true freshman a year ago, Swann 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had 159 pass attempts before throwing his first interception, the longest such stretch by an SEC quarterback to open a career (at an FBS school) since 2002. It was also the fewest interceptions thrown by any FBS true freshman with at least 200 drop backs on the season.
Swann played high school football at Cherokee (GA), where he was a three-star prospect. He finished as a Top 25 quarterback in the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
What is LSU looking for in a potential transfer QB?
The Tigers are are in need of potential challenger to the quarterback position as Garrett Nussmeier takes the reigns from Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Behind Nussmeier is freshman Rickie Collins, who appeared in just one game this season and attempted only a pair of passes. LSU is set to sign four-star prospect Colin Hurley on Wednesday as part of the 2024 high school class.
During three seasons at LSU, Nussmeier has played a backup role first to Max Johnson as a freshmen, then Daniels following his transfer in from Arizona State ahead of the 2022 season.
Nussmeier has hit on 98-of-174 pass attempts (56.3%) for 1,325 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions during his time as a backup.
He flashed at the back end of the 2022 season, stepping in at halftime of the SEC Championship and hitting on 15-of-27 pass attempts for 294 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against Georgia. In the bowl game, Nussmeier split reps with Daniels and finished 11-for-15 passing for 173 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 63-7 blowout win over Purdue.
Swann is looking for a new landing spot, but also is willing to step into a situation to compete for the job without the promise of a start or a certain percentage of practice reps, sources tell On3. That’s the fit the LSU staff is looking for given they have faith in Nussmeier, but also want depth at the position entering the 2024 season.
