Vandagriff to Georgia the Latest Big QB Domino to Fall
The college football offseason used to center on the NFL Draft but it has changed over the last few years with the NCAA transfer portal, acceleration of the recruiting process and of course the coaching carousel. Quarterbacks continue to dominate each angle of the conversation and the week has already provided plenty of movement at the game's most important position.
On Tuesday morning, the anticipated news of top prep quarterback Brock Vandagriff picking the in-state Georgia Bulldogs went public with the junior from nearby Prince Avenue Christian Tweeting a few simple words:
"I'm staying home."
It took just 20 days between Vandagriff's recruiting process opening up and shutting down again but this time it feels like a permanent play thanks in part to Georgia re-vamping its offensive coaching staff under Kirby Smart. Location was also a big factor in the Peach State prospect backing off of the Oklahoma pledge on New Year's Day.
"The impact my family and the ones I’m closest with will never know how much this decision is for them," Vandagriff told Rivals. "I couldn’t imagine the ones I love the most not being able to watch me play the sport I love. The decision to stay home has its pro’s and con’s, but in the end the pro’s outweighed the cons and this is where my heart is set.
"I would say that this commitment is different because my whole family agrees with it and I know this is right. I have prayed about it and feel good about playing for the Georgia Bulldogs here in Athens."
The dual-threat in the class of 2021, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with a snap release, is the latest coveted arm to come off the board as coaching staffs across America manage their own rosters, recruiting multiple classes and navigating the portal at the same time. Georgia has been ahead of the game with the shuffling quarterback market and already followed up the loss of early NFL draft entrant Jake Fromm with the addition of former Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman.
On Monday, a pair of grad-transfer quarterbacks vaulted to the top of spring depth charts with their own announcements.
Former Houston quarterback D'Eriq King came off of his first visit, to Miami, since announcing his status in the portal as a verbally committed prospect. The trip to Coral Gables wound up one King would turn into an extended move-in as he was slated to begin classes Tuesday despite interest from LSU, Oregon, Maryland and others. It was a big win for second-year, yet portal veteran UM coach Manny Diaz and new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Miami also added All-AAC defender Quincy Roche on Monday.
Back in the SEC, there was an intra-conference commitment made from the portal Monday evening. Feleipe Franks, a multi-year starter at Florida who suffered a severe knee injury in 2019, announced his plans to play at Arkansas. The big passer was on campus over the weekend just like the other big names to come off the board, another interested in a new offensive direction as Arkansas moves to Sam Pittman and Kendal Briles on that side of the ball.
Who may be next?
Former Clemson quarterback Chase Brice is the latest notable name to enter the portal, announcing his intentions last week and sure to draw interest in the Power Five. More than two dozen additional quarterbacks remain without a known destination including KJ Costello (Stanford), Justin Rogers (TCU) and Jack Allison (West Virginia).
On the recruiting front, there are still notable class of 2020 passers still on the market like Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall's Malik Hornsby, a one-time North Carolina commitment. Baylor and Arkansas, among others, are in the mix. CJ Dixon, a former Illinois pledge out of Grayson (Ga.), is also undeclared at this time.
In the class of 2021, many eyes shift to Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga's Caleb Williams with Vandagriff off the board. The impressive athlete has a national offer list and was heavily considering Georgia into the New Year. It's rare for multiple elite passers to pick the same school in the same class, so programs like LSU, Oregon, Penn State, Oklahoma and others could stand to benefit. More than two dozen P5 programs already have a junior quarterback on the commitment list.
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