Georgia backup QB Brock Vandagriff to enter transfer portal; Kentucky the team to watch as possible landing spot

In an expected move, Georgia backup quarterback Brock Vandagriff, a five-star prospect when he signed in 2021, is entering the transfer portal. While things could change it is confirmation that Georgia starter Carson Beck has not yet decided to enter the NFL Draft.

Vandagriff will have two years of eligibility at his next school, having redshirted in 2021 and played as a backup the past two seasons. He has appeared in eight games this year, mostly after Beck was taken out of the game in blowouts. Kentucky would be the program to watch if Vandagriff does leave, though entering the portal does not preclude a player returning to his school.

🌊🌊🌊

— Brock 🌊 (@BrockVandagriff) December 4, 2023

Where would this leave Georgia?

Beck won the starting job this year and excelled, enough that he’s being eyed by NFL teams as a possible first-round pick. But without assurances he may not go.

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Vandagriff’s future is tied to Beck’s decision, and Beck’s mother posted “see you in Miami” on social media on Sunday night. (Georgia plays in the Orange Bowl against Florida State on Dec. 30.) That doesn’t mean Beck couldn’t declare afterwards, as the deadline is mid-January, but it means he’s not opting out and could be leaning towards returning.

Coach Kirby Smart said Sunday night that he planned to have discussions with potential opt-out players in the coming days, but had not heard from anyone yet that they would be. But Smart did say there had already been conversations with players who planned to enter the portal; defensive lineman Jonathan Jefferson became the first Georgia player on Monday morning to announce he was entering. (Linebacker Darris Smith announced it last month after being away from the team for several weeks.)

If Vandagriff does leave, Gunner Stockton would ascend to the top backup role, although he’ll have competition from two incoming freshmen: five-star Dylan Raiola and four-star Ryan Puglisi are both committed and expected to sign in two weeks.

Backstory

Vandagriff’s blend of size, athleticism and arm talent made him a highly-recruited player out of Bogart, Ga., and he initially was committed to Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma. But Georgia got Vandagriff to flip and the Sooners moved on to Caleb Williams, who Georgia had also been recruiting.

Vandagriff has never been able to break through at a program that had Stetson Bennett and Beck. But there will certainly be interest in him from other programs.

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(Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty)