The Tigers have seen quarterback enter the transfer portal while adding freshman punter Grant Chadwick from Middle Tennessee State.
Swann announced he would stay with LSU through the Texas Bowl against Baylor (Tuesday, December 31, 2:30 P.M.) before seeking a new program. After transferring from Vanderbilt, where he played for two years, Swann competed with Rickie Collins to back up Garrett Nussmeier. Though Collins was listed as QB2, Swann took over when Nussmeier left games against Florida and Oklahoma. However, Swann’s performances were limited—just one snap against Florida and a few unremarkable series versus Oklahoma. With the addition of Michael Van Buren, Swann would have likely been LSU’s third-string quarterback in 2025, prompting him to pursue opportunities at the Group of 5 or FCS level.
LSU now faces the challenge of bolstering its quarterback depth. Nussmeier is poised to start in 2025, with Van Buren and Colin Hurley competing for the role in 2026, but finding another signal-caller remains a priority.
While the quarterback room remains unsettled, LSU has solidified its punting situation. Chadwick will take over punting duties next fall after an impressive freshman season at MTSU, where he averaged 43.4 yards on 51 punts. His performance included 21 punts downed inside the 20-yard line and 13 punts of 50+ yards—compared to just one 50+ yard punt from LSU’s rotation of Peyton Todd and Blake Ochsendorf this season.
Punting quietly emerged as a weak point for LSU this year, with neither Todd nor Ochsendorf securing the job. Although it didn’t cost the Tigers any games, LSU is determined to improve every aspect of its roster, including special teams.
The unit will see significant changes next season. Along with Chadwick at punter, LSU will have a new long snapper following Slade Roy’s graduation. Additionally, Slade Nagle, who coached tight ends and special teams, has accepted the offensive coordinator role at Houston, reuniting with Willie Fritz after previously working together at Tulane.
Leave a Reply