Mississippi State football lands QB AJ Swann in transfer portal

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STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football landed a quarterback from the transfer portal.

Appalachian State‘s AJ Swann committed to the Bulldogs on Jan. 5. He has 18 starts in his career and is a familiar player to the SEC.

Before playing at App State in 2025, Swann was at Vanderbilt from 2022-23, and then LSU in 2024. However, he never played against MSU. He has thrown for 4,326 yards, 32 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in his career.

Swann made six starts at App State this season, throwing for 1,495 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Swann likely will be Mississippi State’s second-string quarterback, behind Kamario Taylor. Taylor started the final two games of the 2025 season, including MSU’s 43-29 loss to Wake Forest in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Mississippi State’s other quarterbacks slated to be on the 2026 roster are three-star signee Brodie McWhorter and Parker Puckett, a former walk-on who’ll be a sophomore. Blake Shapen, MSU’s starter for 11 games this season, is out of eligibility, while backup Luke Kromenhoek entered the transfer portal.

Swann was a four-star in the 2022 recruiting class from Canton, Georgia, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Mississippi State football transfer portal commits

Swann is the third player to commit to MSU in the transfer portal since it opened on Jan. 2.

Missouri wide receiver Marquis Johnson was the first acquisition on Jan. 4. Florida State defensive lineman Jayson Jenkins also committed to MSU on Jan. 5.

MORE: Mississippi State football coaching staff tracker for Jeff Lebby in 2026 season

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State football lands QB AJ Swann in transfer portal

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