Tag: Brock Vandagriff georgia

Kirby Smart updates backup quarterback situation ahead of 2022 season

‘They’re going to be really good quarterbacks’ – KS

For the first time in two seasons, Georgia has a sure-fire starting quarterback. Kirby Smart has tabbed Stetson Bennett as UGA’s signal caller headed into the 2022 season.

As the kickoff versus No, 11 Oregon looms, Smart gives his take on the backup quarterback race, consisting of junior Carson Beck and sophomore Brock Vandagriff after Georgia’s second scrimmage of camp on Saturday.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Chf1eSlvnnI/

The Bulldogs have had plenty of drama at quarterback ever since heralded Jake Fromm departed to the NFL after the 2019 season.

Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman was the guy for about two weeks in 2020 before opting out citing COVID-19 concerns. Then a battle ensued between D’Wan Mathis, now a starter at Temple, and Stetson Bennett before J.T Daniels stepped in for the rest of the year.

In 2021 the legend of ‘The Mailman’ was born as Bennett resurged after Daniels’ injury and led the Bulldogs to the promise land.

Entering 2022 the Bulldogs have one of the strongest quarterback rooms in the country due, in part, to Beck and Vandagriff.

“I think both of those guys have done an incredible job. They’re going to be really good quarterbacks,” Smart said. “They understand our system at a high level, they’ve been through springs, they’re both playing winning football and I’m pleased with both of their growths. We continue to get them more opportunities because we’re trying to evaluate them as a one, more than you are as a two or three because sometimes the offensive line changes when you do that.”

Even true freshman Gunner Stockton, a former four-star prospect, has made strides in his own right.

“I thought Gunner made some really good plays today,” Smart said. “You don’t get to see as much of Gunner because we do fours in our practice. He gets reps, which is good, but he gets primary reps in the scrimmage when he gets to go out there with the threes and things. And I thought he did a good job. I have a lot of confidence in all of our quarterbacks.”

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Where does UGA QB signee Brock Vandagriff rank among 2021 5-star recruits?

Bleacher Report recently released a list ranking all of the five-star recruits in the 2021 recruiting class.

Bleacher Report recently released a list ranking all of the five-star recruits in the 2021 recruiting class.

Of course, one of those talented recruits is 2021 Georgia quarterback signee Brock Vandagriff, the most highly-touted recruit to choose Athens since Justin Fields.

Watch his 2019 highlights here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKNH671Bnxk

Vandagriff is rated as the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the country and the No. 16 player overall, according to 247sports.

So, where does Vandagriff rank among the top athletes in the nation? According to the list, Vandagriff is rated as the No. 12 five-star recruit in the country.

A little high if you ask me. Those ranked ahead of Vandagriff include Georgia offensive tackle signee Amarius Mims at No. 5 and more importantly Oklahoma signee Caleb Williams, the only other quarterback ranked ahead of Vandagriff on the list, at No. 4.

Williams is ranked as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation ahead of Vandagriff.

How fun would a matchup between Oklahoma and Georgia be with Vandagriff and Williams battling it out in the future?

Other Bulldog signees on the list include linebackers Xavian Sorey and Smael Mondon at No. 19 and No. 30.

 

 

This week former Bulldogs Brandon Boykin and Chris Burnette joined UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton to talk Dawgs, their new podcast and more! Listen here for lots of laughs!

Georgia football has found its QB of the future in 2021 signee Brock Vandagriff

Five-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff signed with Georgia football on early signing day, the No. 2 QB in the 2021 recruiting class.

Georgia has had drama in the quarterback room ever since a bright-eyed Jake Fromm took over for an injured Jacob Eason in the first game of the 2017 season.

Fromm would go on to lead Georgia to an SEC Championship, Rose Bowl win and National Championship appearance in his freshman season, prompting former 5-star recruit Eason to transfer.

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm (11) runs off the field following the SEC Football Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Dec. 2, 2017, in Atlanta. Georgia defeated Auburn 28-7. (Photo by Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS/Sipa USA)

Georgia coach Kirby Smart had a decision to make that offseason. Start Fromm, the guy who just led the Bulldogs to the College Football Playoff, or give true freshman Justin Fields, the most highly touted recruit in Georgia football history, a chance to prove his skill as the starter.

Smart chose Fromm, as most would under the circumstances, and Fields transferred to Ohio State, leaving the Bulldogs with limited options after Fromm left early for the NFL Draft after his junior season of 2019.

To fill the gap, Smart and staff turned to the transfer portal and signed Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman and USC quarterback JT Daniels in spring of 2020.

Daniels was set to be a backup as he was nursing an ACL tear, pinning Newman as the perceived starter headed into this fall until the COVID-19 pandemic prompted him to opt-out of the season.

Georgia began the season with redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis at quarterback and quickly turned to former walk-on Stetson Bennett in an attempt to find some cohesion in a new offense brought over with newly hired offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

Mathis and Bennett played valiantly, but their experience and intangibles were not at the level of USC transfer Daniels, who took over as the Bulldogs’ signal caller in game 7 vs. Mississippi State.

His knee was in question, but Daniels put the doubters to bed with a 400 yard performance that gave us a glimpse of where Georgia’s offense can be with a gunslinger under center.

That’s what the Bulldogs have brought in with the signing of five-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff. 

The Prince Avenue Christian School star is rated as the No. 2 quarterback, the No. 2 recruit in the state of Georgia and the No. 14 overall recruit in the country, according to 247Sports.

Vandagriff’s poise as a young quarterback is almost as impressive as his athleticism.

Vandagriff (6-3, 205 pounds) threw for 9, 566 yards and ran for another 1,783 in his career at Prince Avenue Christian.

Check out his junior highlights here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKNH671Bnxk

Looking ahead, we will most likely see Daniels return as Georgia’s starter when the Bulldogs travel to Clemson to start the 2021 season and right behind the arm of Daniels will be Vandagriff, who will be studying how to be an SEC caliber starter.

DawgNation, you have every right to be excited for the future of Georgia football in the hands of Daniels and Vandagriff moving forward.

Did you miss national signing day? I break it all down in this week’s episode of UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton in our national signing day special! I talk about who signed, what guys can make the most impact and how Georgia’s 2021 class relates to the SEC. Listen here:

 

What UGA football, Kirby Smart must do moving forward

The Georgia Bulldogs suffered their second loss of the season and needs to improve and evaluate talent for the reminder of the year.

The Georgia Bulldogs suffered their second loss of the season on Saturday at the hands of the hated Florida Gators. Florida’s offense overpowered Georgia’s defense and won 44-28.

Now, Georgia must evaluate itself as the Bulldogs no longer have realistic College Football Playoff hopes. This is the first time since 2016 that Georgia hasn’t been in contention for a National Championship until the SEC Championship Game.

Firstly, the Dawgs must get healthier. Georgia is without numerous starters on the defensive side of the ball. Additionally, Stetson Bennett, George Pickens, Kendall Milton, and more are ailing on offense. There’s no reason to rush back players considering there’s no longer a National Championship run to play for.

Kirby Smart must find a way to gain more consistent quarterback play throughout the rest of the season. The Bulldogs must learn what they’ve got presently on the roster. Quarterbacks are the most important position in football and Georgia’s quarterbacks haven’t gotten the job done this season.

The Bulldogs must answer some burning questions: Is D’Wan Mathis or Stetson Bennett better? Is USC Trojans transfer J.T. Daniels healthy? Can Carson Beck be effective? Georgia has to do better with the quarterback position moving forward if it wants to win a championship.

The Dawgs had tough luck with Jamie Newman’s opt out before the season, but they shouldn’t have to count on transfer quarterbacks.

Georgia has a commitment in a five-star quarterback recruit in Brock Vandagriff, who will likely be favored to start the 2021 season. Georgia needs to have a good back-up quarterback next season who can efficiently run the offense should Vandagriff get hurt.

The Bulldogs must have a more effective passing attack to be a serious National Championship contender. Georgia must showcase a more dynamic passing game in the final four games of the season. The Dawgs need to work on their largest weakness.

The Georgia Bulldogs will be favored in all four of their remaining games: at Missouri, Mississippi State, at South Carolina, and a home finale against Vanderbilt.

Kirby Smart and Georgia must send seniors out the right way. Winning out is what these seniors and NFL Draft eligible players deserve. That being said, the staff will want to evaluate some young talent. Additionally, roster management heading into the offseason will be unique this season since seniors can return (they won’t lose a season of eligibility this year, per NCAA rules for this season only).

Georgia’s got to do some serious self evaluation. As for the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs need to be able to stop wheel routes and pass-catching running backs. Florida humiliated UGA with this combination. Alabama additionally used wheel routes to burn Georgia several times.

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UGA football commit invited to prestigious Elite 11 camp

Georgia Bulldogs commitment Brock Vandagriff has been invited to the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback camp

Georgia Bulldogs commitment Brock Vandagriff has been invited to the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback camp. Vandagriff is a five-star quarterback commitment in the class of 2021.

Vandagriff, who was originally an Oklahoma Sooners commitment, plays high school football for Prince Avenue Christian School in his hometown of Bogart, Georgia. Vandagriff is excited to announce that he’s one of eleven quarterbacks competing at the event.

Vandagriff is an athletic quarterback with a big-time arm. He’s ranked as the second best quarterback recruit in the class of 2021 and the 13th rated overall recruit according to 247Sports.

At the Elite 11 camp, Vandagriff will have a chance to learn from high-profile coaches and from fellow quarterbacks in his class. Matthew Stafford, Tim Tebow, Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodger, Drew Brees, and more are among the notable alumni of the quarterback camp. Last season, class of 2020 Georgia football signee Carson Beck also competed in the event.

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5-star UGA QB commit Brock Vandagriff recruits nation’s No. 2 TE to Georgia

Georgia football’s 5-star QB commit Brock Vandagriff tweets at No. 2 TE in 2021 class in an effort to recruit the top players in the country

Georgia’s 5-star 2021 quarterback commit Brock Vandagriff has been playing a big role in recruiting members of UGA’s 2021 recruiting class.

Vandagriff, from Bogart, Georgia, plays for Prince Avenue Christian School and is actively recruiting some of the most talented players in the 2021 class to play along side him at UGA.

Vandagriff tweeted at Brock Bowers, the nation’s No. 2 tight end in the 2021 class, recruiting him to Athens.

Bowers is from Napa, California, and listed at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds. He has over 20 offers, and Georgia appears to be the leader right now.

Vandagriff fancied the idea of a “Brock-to-Brock” connection in Athens down the road, which could be very fun to watch.

 

Recruiting spotlight: 5-star UGA QB commit Brock Vandagriff

Get to know Georgia football 2021 #2 ranked dual-threat QB commit Brock Vandagriff.

5-star dual-threat 2021 quarterback prospect Brock Vandagriff gave his commitment to the G this past January.

Vandagriff, the 6-3, 205 pound rising high school senior, currently attends the Prince Avenue Christian School, in his hometown of Bogart, GA.  He made the decision to stay close to home and play for Kirby Smart and the Dawgs.

Vandagriff is the #2 dual-threat quarterback in the 2021 class and already has a perfect college frame. He ranks as the No. 12 player overall.

His poise in the pocket is very nice, showing confident throws and strong runs in his high school film.

Watch Brock’s junior season highlights here:

Vandagriff was Georgia’s third commitment for the 2021 class, a class that has been slightly delayed due to coronavirus, but we know Kirby’s recruitment never stops.  Georgia’s 2021 class currently has seven commits.

He had offers from Oklahoma, Auburn and Alabama but turned those down for UGA.

“I trust the coaches there, and I trust them in the direction they are going and I want to be able to compete for national championships,” Vandagriff told DawgNation on his decision to sign with the Bulldogs.

According to 247Sports, Vandagriff clocked in at 4.69 seconds on a 40-yard dash, and also recorded a 36.9-inch vertical jump.  Those are crazy numbers for anyone, not just a 6-3 quarterback.

Vandagriff has one more year of high school ball until he gets to work in Athens to compete for the starting QB job.

Twitter reacts to Georgia football landing 5-star QB Brock Vandagriff

Twitter reacts after Georgia football landed 5-star QB Brock Vandagriff.

On Tuesday morning, Georgia football picked up a huge commitment from 5-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff, the top rated passer in the class of 2021.

Vandagriff, out of Bogart, Georgia, just a 10-15 minute drive from Athens, is the top rated quarterback in his class.

If he does end up signing with the Dawgs, he will be the fourth 5-star quarterback that Kirby Smart will have signed since taking over.

Vandagriff becomes the third player to commit to the Bulldogs in the class of 2021 and is highest ranked member of the group.

Following the news, Twitter reacted, starting with Smart’s signature “Go Dawgs.”

Georgia football lands 5-star quarterback commitment

Georgia football landed a 5-star QB commit today!

The Georgia Bulldogs landed the crown jewel for its 2021 class on Tuesday when five-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff committed to the Dawgs.

Vandagriff, the consensus top quarterback prospect in the nation, made his announcement via social media. The pro-style passer from Prince Avenue Christian School, the No. 1 player in Georgia and No. 8 nationally, decommitted from Oklahoma on January 1. He was on campus this past weekend and visited with new UGA offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

The 6′-3″, 200-pound prospect led his Wolverines to more than 50 points six times last season. He is the third commit to the 2021 UGA class, joining four-star athlete David Daniel and three-star guard Jared Wilson.

Is Georgia back in the mix for 2021 5-star QB?

Could Georgia football be back in the mix with 2021 5-star QB Brock Vandagriff?

2021 5-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff (Prince Avenue School in Bogart, Georgia) committed to Oklahoma over the summer, choosing the Sooners over the in-state Georgia Bulldogs and nearby Florida Gators.

On Wednesday, though, Vandagriff announced on Twitter that he has decommitted from Oklahoma and will be reopening his recruitment.

Georgia was one of his finalists when he committed to Oklahoma, and told SI that Sooners’ head coach Lincoln Riley was the main factor in choosing Oklahoma. Additionally, he said that Georgia was “right there” with the Sooners and it sounds like Kirby Smart came close to pulling it off the first time around.

Vandagriff, who stands at 6’2″ and weighs 200 pounds, is the nation’s No. 8 prospect in the class of 2021 and ranks as the top pro-style quarterback. But don’t be fooled by the “pro-style” title next to his name on recruiting websites; Vandagriff ran a 4.69 40 time and rushed for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore.

Another name to keep an eye on in the 2021 class is dual-threat quarterback Caleb Williams (Washington DC), who 247Sports sees as a Georgia lean at the moment. He is the No. 15 overall player and top ranked dual-threat quarterback.