What The Fudge: Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff doesn’t cuss
Kentucky’s new quarterback Brock Vandagriff is still a bit of a mystery to fans. Sure, the former five-star recruit has the pedigree, playing on back-to-back national championship teams at Georgia. He’s got red hair and loves to hunt. Apparently, he turned heads in this past weekend’s scrimmage. Thanks to running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, we found out an interesting fact about Vandagriff today: he doesn’t cuss.
Sumo-Karngbaye has gotten to know Vandagriff well since Vandagriff joined the team earlier this year. He told reporters today that no matter the scenario, Vandagriff keeps it clean out of respect for his religion.
“Man, his faith,” Sumo-Karngbaye said of what stands out most about Vandagriff. “His faith in God. He’s so, I want to say holy or something like that, he don’t even cuss. He shortens his cuss words. He’ll say ‘shiii’ or ‘fudge,’ you know what I’m saying? Just different things like that. That’s just pretty cool about him. He’s pretty pure, I would say. A down-to-earth guy.”
A quick Google search confirms that Vandagriff stays away from swear words. After breaking off for a 23-yard run from scrimmage in Georgia’s spring game in 2023, Vandagriff modified a famous saying when describing his scrambling skills.
“They say ‘Green grass, haul butt (ass).’ I don’t curse, but that’s what they say, and I took off and just took what the defense gave me,” Vandagriff said.
No offense to Brock, but “Green grass, haul butt” just doesn’t hit the same.
Vandagriff buzz builds after Saturday’s scrimmage
As mentioned, Vandagriff was one of the standouts from Saturday’s scrimmage according to KSR’s sources. His work ethic has been a huge talking point this summer, with his teammates joking that he’s at the practice facility so much that he might as well sleep there. Today, offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan told KSR that he’s excited to see Vandagriff’s hard work translating to the field.
“Extremely steady. He’s a guy that knows what he wants to do. Is really playing a consistent brand of football. Certainly, things we want to take the next steps on with him but he has been a guy since we’ve got here that just keeps getting better and better. I think he’s got a really good grasp of this thing. We’re excited to turn him loose.”
Sumo-Karngbaye enters the season as Kentucky’s No. 2 running back and could be the Cats’ most versatile piece in the backfield. After transferring in from NC State, he totaled 20 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown and 14 catches for 69 yards and a score last season. On Saturday, he saw glimpses of some budding chemistry with his new quarterback.
“Brock, that’s my guy, man. There were a couple of plays from scrimmage that just showed me how the season is going to go as far as chemistry. There was a play where I wasn’t even supposed to get the ball — I’m not a receiver so I can’t go downfield and block, that would be a flag. So I just turned around and Brock gives me the ball. I’m gonna always catch it for him. We laugh about little things like that after the scrimmage. I definitely am looking forward to playing with him the whole season.”
North Texas transfer Ja’Mori Maclin missed spring practice as he recovered from an injury, so he and Vandagriff have been playing catch-up when it comes to chemistry. So far, so good in fall camp.
“It’s coming along great, man,” Maclin told reporters of his relationship with Vandagriff. “Like I said, I missed spring so now I’m just getting back a lot of reps with him and thinking about what he’s thinking on a bunch of routes, his timing. We’ve been connecting pretty well lately.”
“Me and Ja’Mori have had to do a little extra because obviously he didn’t play this spring but making sure we’re on the same page,” Vandagriff said on Saturday. “He had a couple of clutch grabs today which was good to see and making sure he wins matchups one on one. We talk about different ways to win against different looks and finding open areas. Been seeing some good stuff out of him.”
You can see some of Vandagriff’s throws in the practice footage UK released this afternoon, including an absolute bomb to Dane Key.
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