Brock Vandagriff 'meshing very well with all of the receivers' -- namely Barion Brown and Dane Key

It’s not easy developing relationships with your third set of starting quarterbacks and offensive coordinators in as many years, but that’s been the case for Kentucky‘s blue-chip duo at wide receiver, Barion Brown and Dane Key. First, it was Will Levis and Rich Scangarello. Then, Devin Leary and Liam Coen. Now as juniors, it’ll be Brock Vandagriff and Bush Hamdan.

The latest transition comes following letdown sophomore campaigns for both Brown and Key after exploding as freshmen in blue and white. The talent has always been there, but the production hasn’t quite yet lived up to the superstar hype, even if the flashes are staring us all right in the face.

Is a breakthrough on the horizon with Vandagriff under center and Hamdan calling the plays? The starting quarterback is certainly working to hold up his end of the bargain, tirelessly pushing to get on the same page with his pass-catchers.

And the results are showing ahead of the team’s season opener this weekend vs. Southern Miss.

“With Brock, I think he’s meshing very well with all of the receivers,” Stoops said during his call-in show Monday evening. “… It seems like he’s been around forever because we’ve worked a lot, we’ve taken a lot of reps. When you look at all of last spring, what we’ve done this summer, what we’ve done for this fall camp, there’s been a lot of reps, a lot of plays, they’ve had plenty of time to get on the same page with the receivers.

“I think Barion and Dane are two guys that everybody expects big years from going into their third year. We’re excited to see what they do, as well.”

That aligns with what Stoops said earlier in the day at his game-week press conference, raving about Vandagriff’s work ethic while also complimenting Hamdan’s teaching abilities. Those things have helped the offense get in sync ahead of schedule.

“(The chemistry between the receivers and Vandagriff is) very good,” Stoops said. “I think Brock is certainly a guy that’s in there all the time, always working at it. If you look at the way we do things now, the turnover of roster I don’t think maybe it’s as big of a situation as it was, five years ago if you will, because you’re teaching a lot of new guys anyway. What helps is (being) able to spend more time (with the players). I hope that pays dividends, I’ve said that before and I hope it’s true. I think we’ve spent a lot of time.

“Our coaches have worked with our players a lot; they’ve had a lot of meetings, they’ve had a lot of time, they’ve sacrificed a lot of their time in the summer to spend with our players, preparing them, and hopefully that will correlate to a smoother transition. I like the way Bush teaches, I feel like the players can pick that up very well.”

Brown and Key are the headliners at receiver, but all of the talent in the room is connecting with Vandagriff, namely incoming transfers Ja’Mori Maclin and Fred Farrier. Stoops singled both players out in each of his media sessions on Monday, first in the presser and later during his call-in show.

“Not only with Barion (Brown) and Dane (Key), but you add Ja’Mori (Maclin) and you add Fred (Farrier), two guys that are very important and very good players that constantly show up in practice,” he said. “It’s a pretty good statement.”

“I think there is a variety of other receivers. Ja’Mori Maclin is a guy that I’ve been high on in the slot that’s looked really good, Fred Farrier is a guy that continues to impress,” Stoops added. “He’s been very steady all summer, making plays. There’s a variety of receivers, and I feel like they’re on the same page.”

Early returns are positive. Now it’s time for Vandagriff to find his playmakers under the lights of Kroger Field on Saturday.