Why addition of Georgia transfer QB Brock Vandagriff is a strong bet for Kentucky, Mark Stoops

Kentucky will be on to their fourth straight transfer quarterback in Brock Vandagriff in 2024. He has a chance to be among the best at that position for the Wildcats, though, from how his development could go per On3’s Cody Bellaire.

Bellaire noted Vandagriff as one of the nation’s most impactful transfers during Friday’s episode of ‘Andy Staples On3’. He sees this as a potentially big deal for Kentucky in what will be Vandagriff’s first true college experience considering his previous pedigree. That alone makes it a gamble worth taking for the program in Lexington.

“This is exactly the type of thing we were eluding to earlier, right, Andy? Could this be a deal where the change of scenery creates a new type of player that we had seen previously, right?” Bellaire said. “At the high school level, Brock Vandagriff is a five-star. He was a former industry five-star. Are we looking at a potential Will Levis–esque impact at Kentucky here with Brock Vandagriff? I would say so.”

“To me, Kentucky is betting on Brock Vandagriff – they’re betting in the arm talent, they’re betting in the potential, they’re betting in on the prospect that almost every team (was betting on),” Bellaire added. “Like you mentioned, Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma was betting on Brock Vandagriff before Caleb Williams was even in the fold.”

That bet is even safer considering what the Wildcats have to offer him in the pass game. With a new offensive coordinator in Bush Hamdan and targets like Barion Brown, Dane Key, and Ja’Mori Maclin along with their tight ends, he’ll have many weapons that could help him unlock that past potential that may very well still be there.

“The thing that I think could help drive that is that receiver group can roll,” said Bellaire. “With a guy like Barion Brown – you talk about a vertical field stretcher? Brock Vandagriff has got a hose. Those guys just have to match up, link up – I don’t know – twice, three times a game and that’s six all two or three times.”

Vandagriff is a former five-star prospect from the 2021 cycle per On3’s Industry Ranking. He finished in the class rated as the No. 23 recruit, No. 4 QB, and No. 2 player from Georgia. Amidst national interesting in his recruitment, he eventually stayed home with him committing to the Georgia Bulldogs.

Over three seasons in Athens, Vandagriff played in 13 games as a reserve. That includes being part of a pair of national title-winning campaigns with the ‘Dawgs. In those chances, he went 12-21 (57.1%) for 165 yards and a pair of touchdowns. However, he was never able to break through as their starter, which, admittedly, is no shame considering his competition was Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck.

That’s why, early on this offseason, Vandagriff entered his name into the transfer portal. He did so as the No. 8 QB and No. 35 transfer in On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players. He then committed to Kentucky just a few days later to finally be a QB1.

There’s a lot of promise still for Vandagriff and, therefore, for the Wildcat offense with him leading it. All there’s left to do now is kick off from the bluegrass this fall to see if it will pay off for him and Kentucky.

“This is a top-tier caliber prospect from a physical and athletic standpoint at the quarterback position,” said Bellaire. “We’ll see if Mark Stoops and Kentucky can get him right.”