Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops made some telling remarks about the Georgia Bulldogs this week while discussing his new quarterback, Brock Vandagriff, which highlighted the deep respect UGA’s coaching staff commands within the SEC.
Vandagriff, who transferred to Kentucky after spending three seasons at Georgia, is set to make his first SEC start on Saturday when the Wildcats face the South Carolina Gamecocks in Lexington.
During a press conference earlier this week, Stoops was asked about the decision to recruit Vandagriff despite the former four-star prospect having limited college game film. Stoops explained that a significant factor in their confidence in Vandagriff was the quality of coaching he received at Georgia.
“We put a lot of faith and confidence in Brock because we believed in him,” Stoops said. “What we did see on film, we liked. And I go back to the fact that he’s coming from a program where you know how well coached he was and how complex they are. When you play Georgia, you see that they’re not just talented players—they’re very well coached. So when we took someone like Brock, who was their backup, we saw his operation, we saw the way he was coached, we saw how he played in high school, and we felt pretty good about it.”
Stoops’ comments suggest that if Vandagriff had been a backup at a different program, he might not have garnered as much attention from SEC teams due to his limited film. However, the Wildcats felt assured of his abilities because of the rigorous coaching he received at Georgia, a testament to the Bulldogs’ program. Stoops didn’t just talk the talk—he walked the walk by bringing Vandagriff on board, showing the ultimate respect for Georgia’s development of talent.
Vandagriff made a strong debut for Kentucky, completing 12-of-18 passes for 169 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception in the Wildcats’ 31-0 season-opening win against Southern Mississippi. He also showcased his mobility, rushing five times for 35 yards.
This weekend’s game against South Carolina will be a significant test, but the real challenge looms the following week when Vandagriff and the Wildcats host his former team, Georgia, in what promises to be an early-season primetime showdown.