Former Georgia QB Brock Vandagriff finds new home
Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff has found a new home. After entering his name into the transfer portal on Monday, the Bogart, Ga. native announced on Wednesday morning that he’ll be suiting up for the Kentucky Wildcats next season.
A former five star, Vandagriff spent three seasons in Athens. He appeared in just five games his first two seasons, attempting a combined three passes with no completions, before competing with Carson Beck for the starting job in 2023. Beck won the battle leaving Vandagriff to serve as the backup. He completed 12 passes for 165 yards and two scores in that role while rushing five times for 39 yards. One of his touchdown passes came against his new team.
At Kentucky, Vandagriff will get to work with quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who played a big part in the development of Will Levis. Coen was at Kentucky in 2021 before bouncing to the NFL in 2022 as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. He returned in 2023 to his previous role.
The Wildcats also have a young receiving core featuring Dane Key and Barion Brown, a pair of sophomores that have each made an impact in their first two seasons. Tight ends Jordan Dingle and Josh Kattus are also both sophomores. All together, that quartet of youngsters has combined for 23 touchdowns in two seasons.
Georgia is set to play Kentucky in Lexington next season as a part of the 2024 division-less SEC schedule. A date it to be determined.
Vandagriff is the first of the seven transfer portal entries so far to announce his next destination. He will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Wildcats.
GEORGIA TRANSFER PORTAL ENTRIES
OLB Darris Smith
DL Jonathan Jefferson
QB Brock Vandagriff (Kentucky)
WR Jackson Meeks
OL Austin Blaske
EDGE CJ Madden
K Jared Zirkel
More on the transfer portal…
The NCAA student-athlete transfer portal launched in 2018. It marked a chance from when student-athletes had to get a release from their school to transfer to another and they could be limited as to where they transferred. The portal allows student athletes to simply notify their current school and its compliance department that they intend to move on to another program.
Since its implementation, Georgia has added several notable prospects. That list includes Lawrence Cager (Miami), Eli Wolf (Tennessee), Tre’ McKitty (Florida State), Derion Kendrick (Clemson), Tykee Smith (West Virginia), Rara Thomas (Mississippi State) and Dominic Lovett (Missouri), among others. The Bulldogs have had years when they’ve been active in the portal, attempting to take as many as four prospects before the 2021 season. They have also had seasons like 2022 when they didn’t take a single player and went on to go 15-0 and win the National Championship for a second straight season.
Portal needs for Georgia in the current class include defensive line and wide receiver, where it is expected to land multiple players at each position. The Bulldogs could also be in the market at running back, outside linebacker, offensive tackle, or safety. If a player wants to transfer from SEC school to SEC school, he must do so by January 2 when the current window closes. There is another window that will open in the spring but, at that point, a player must transfer in from outside the conference.
