Brock Vandagriff, Barion Brown connect for touchdown on first day of fall camp
Brock to Barion kind of has a ring to it.
It’s clear that new Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff and Wildcats wideout Barion Brown have become well-acquainted with one another since the new UK QB1 arrived in Lexington. Their chemistry was on full display during the first day of fall camp.
The Georgia transfer hit his new favorite target in stride for an easy touchdown against the Kentucky secondary.
As Carson Beck‘s backup at Georgia in 2023, Vandagriff completed 12 of 18 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 9.2 yards per attempt. Of course, those numbers will be inflated this season in Lexington. In first-year offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan’s offense, he’s expected to be able to let loose in his first season as a full-time starter.
For Brown, Vandagriff will be his third quarterback in three seasons. Despite the inconsistency at the position, Brown has been able to sustain success out wide for UK as the team’s top receiver. In two years he’s caught 93 passes for 1,167 yards and eight touchdowns. It’s not farfetched to guess that 2024 may be his most productive year yet.
Not only is Brown a main target for Vandagriff this season, but Lexington native Dane Key will also provide added production for the Wildcats at the receiver position. Add in Ohio State tailback transfer Chip Trayanum to the list of Kentucky skill players, and there’s no shortage of options for Hamdan to give Vandagriff to work with.
These connections could be aided by elevated play from the Wildcats’ offensive line as Vandagriff inherits one of the most experienced offensive line units in college football under OL coach Erin Wolford.
Eli Cox will be a four-year starter, Jager Burton is a three-year starter. Marques Cox is now in year seven of his college football career with 46 starts at Kentucky and Northern Illinois. Tennessee transfer Gerald Mincey has 13 career starts in the SEC. Together, the whole OL group has 156 starts to their name.
The Wildcats’ new-look offense will debut on Aug. 31 against Southern Miss for the season opener. SEC play begins early for the Wildcats as well, hosting South Carolina for a Week 2 clash. He’ll have to pull out all of his tricks for a Week 3 matchup with Vandagriff’s former team in the Georgia Bulldogs as well. It’s sure to be a matchup that he’s had circled since the game was announced.