As many had expected, UGA second string quarterback Brock Vandagriff will be entering the transfer portal.

The redshirt sophomore from Bogart has spent the 2023 campaign as Carson Beck’s backup after fending off redshirt freshman Gunner Stockton. He’s seen steady action in mop up duty, including a career-high 77 yards against UT-Martin. But Georgia has a pair of commitments at the position for the 2024 class. If all current scholarship QBs had stayed that would have made 5 on the roster. So the writing had been on the wall for awhile that someone was probably heading out of town.

With Carson Beck installed not only as the starter but as a potential Heisman candidate in 2024, he was unlikely to leave (unless for the NFL). Gunner Stockton has been a pupil of Mike Bobo and his father, legendary Peach State high school coach and QB instructor George Bobo, since before his first high school snap. Pair that with the separation between he and Beck and he also seemed unlikely to exit the Classic City. That left only the former Prince Avenue Christian standout Vandagriff, who flipped from Oklahoma to Georgia before Signing Day 2020.

There’s a new staff in Norman since then, so I don’t know that the Sooners are necessarily an obvious contender here. Vandagriff actually grew up going to Auburn games, and his skills would certainly make him a fit for the Plainsman offense. I also think that if Dillon Gabriel doesn’t follow his former offensive coordinator to Mississippi State, Vandagriff could be a fit at that school (which is among Georgia’s 2024 opponents).

If anything, Vandagriff’s decisions is a bit of a relief as it may signal that he expects Carson Beck to return in 2024, and doesn’t want to wait until his redshirt junior season to compete for a starting spot. If Beck does get a solid NFL Draft evaluation and hits the door, the Bulldogs would likely then be in the market for a transfer to compete with Stockton, Raiola and Puglisi. I would much rather see that battle headed into 2025 than next year when Georgia will likely be replacing at least Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, and two to three more receivers.

Here’s wishing one of our hairiest Dawgs all the best, wherever he ends up.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!