Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann has officially entered the transfer portal, as first reported by 247 sports. The news came just one day after Ken Seals announced the he would be entering the portal as well.
Swann was heralded by many as the new face of Vanderbilt’s program after a freshman season that saw him throw for 1,274 yards, 10 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions during his freshman season. Despite entering the year off as the backup to current Mississippi State quarterback Mike Wright, Swann ended up starting seven games, highlighted by a miraculous come-from-behind victory against Northern Illinois University. It was performances like the one against the Huskies that led many Vanderbilt fans to believe Swann, entering his second year, was the future.
It was a less than fruitful season for the sophomore, who appeared in just six games this season, throwing for 1,457 yards, 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. The Georgia native suffered an elbow injury during the Commodores’ loss to UNLV in September. He appeared the week after in Vanderbilt’s 45-28 loss to Kentucky, completing just 40% of his passes for 189 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. Swann was kept off the field for over two months, due to the injury at first, but later a coach’s decision from head coach Clark Lea. Swann made his way back to the field this Saturday in the Commodores’ blowout loss to No. 21 Tennessee.
The news leaves Vanderbilt with just two quarterbacks left on its roster: Walter Taylor and Drew Dickey. Two 3-star recruits in Jeremy St-Hillair and Whit Muschamp will join the quarterback room as freshmen next season. With a lack of experience at the position, Lea and Co. are expected to pursue a starting quarterback of their own in the transfer portal.