A Look at Elite Georgia QB Commitment Brock Vandagriff
In the scouting game, the term ceiling comes up well more times than not. It's a projection business, so looking at tangible strengths over time allows for potential growth in the future, making a prospect that much better.
But what about the term floor?
The theoretical lowest the bar can be in the projection game is worth taking into account. It means there is already so much substance evident for a projection, as in the prospect is ready to be at the next level today, that the likelihood of him failing at the next stop feels legitimately low.
Brock Vandagriff can fit into either dialogue but with the latter, his floor may be the best in the entire college football recruiting class of 2021.
The 6'2'' Bogart (Ga.) Prince Avenue Christian quarterback has this been there, done that resume on tape over the last two years that makes him a quick study. Committed to Georgia after an early pledge to Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma, the dual-threat has so many easy to see traits that already work in today's college football.
The rising senior proves productive inside the pocket and out, especially as a sophomore when he ran for more than 1,000 yards. While big bursts as a runner were more scarce in 2019, his arm did plenty of talking. The efficiency and accuracy make him one of the safest bets at the game's most important position.
Vandagriff sprays the ball beyond the numbers and down the field with relative ease thanks to good footwork and elite decision-making. With a staggering 31 to 3 touchdown to interception ratio as a junior in just eight games, he can get through progressions without much wasted movement and drives the ball well on short notice. As a fellow evaluator recently put it, he just puts the ball where he wants, when he wants.
Though a seemingly simple concept, it's the very nature of the quarterback position, especially in the current climate of "basketball on grass" in wide open spread concepts. Vandagriff is an unselfish point guard and field general with a solid arm, great execution and athleticism on his side to put pressure on a defense at will.
There is plus presence on display more times than not on tape. It combines well with an internal clock that helps to push the envelope when needed. Vandagriff's got that feel every top quarterback needs when it comes to timing, evading the rush and taking what the defense gives him on occasion. Originally a baseball lover, he has some of the best velocity manipulation in the class, too, based on coverage, pressure and space. Factor in that he can get the ball off on different planes, like a shortstop turning a double play, and it makes stopping the future Bulldog that much tougher.
Coming off of a season in which he threw for 2,471 yards while protecting the ball and completing 71.5 percent of his passes, Vandagriff's strong floor ties into his ability to threaten the defense as both a passer and runner. A verified 40-yard dash sub 4.7 seconds and a recent 100-meter dash time in the 11.7-second range tells some of the story here. At 200 pounds, still with room to fill out, it shouldn't shock to see him gain the trust of Kirby Smart and company early on when in Athens. Think a more naturally-gifted Bo Nix and you're on the right track.
When it comes to ceiling, Vandagriff will have the chance to take the next step once he plays football year-round for the first time. Also a varsity basketball player in addition to the sprinter duties, a 12-month focus on quarterbacking surely will enhance his physical growth and begin to curve the only sub-elite element of his game early on -- arm strength. While he can use anticipatory skill and savvy to compensate, perfecting an already rock solid throwing motion and upping the speed of his release can also help the football get to the target even faster.
Overall, it doesn't take much imagination to see Vandagriff playing significantly on Saturdays in the near future. As a scheme versatile playmaker who makes you defend the length and width of the field, he looks next up along the lines of great modern Peach State prep passers following Deshaun Watson, Jake Fromm, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and company.
“I’d honestly have to say I’m at the end of that list right now," he told Bulldog Maven recently. "I haven’t proved myself at the next level like those guys. I used to go to Woodward so I got to see Trevor Lawrence and Cartersville play us and Deshaun Watson at Gainesville, just watching those guys on Hudl is unbelievable.”
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