It’s a tough pill to swallow for Kentucky football fans as they are set to lose a key player. Turns out, the rumors were true. Their prized 5-star possession, Brock Vandagriff is hanging up his cleats—a decision many saw coming, especially with the players’ ongoing “tussle” to make a place in the team’s roster…

According to an announcement from the Instagram account of On3, “BREAKING: Kentucky QB Brock Vandagriff has retired from football, per Jon Hale. He is stepping away from college football with one year of eligibility remaining.” This news comes after Hale had tweeted about the same on December 29: “NEW: While Brock Vandagriff did not enter the transfer portal this month, he is not returning to UK. After one season starting at Kentucky, he is retiring from playing football, Vandagriff confirmed Sunday through a UK spokeswoman.”

The five-star recruit from Prince Avenue Christian School in Bogart, Georgia, initially committed to Oklahoma but switched gears to join the Georgia Bulldogs in 2020. However, he did not get a starting role with the team, primarily serving as a backup quarterback but played a crucial role in their back-to-back national championship wins in 2021 and 2022. That was not enough, it seems, as the youngster entered the transfer portal and joined the Kentucky Wildcats, where his struggles didn’t end.

Vandagriff started the first 11 games for the team, where the team struggled with a 4-7 season. Notably, he was benched at halftime during the Week 13 game vs Texas in favor of freshman Cutter Boley—which many opine could’ve contributed to the shock announcement. Or at least that’s what fans think

The retired star finished his 2024 campaign throwing for 1,593 yards and completed 57% (125-of-218 passing) of his passes with 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. During his four-year collegiate career, he’s amassed 1,758 yards and 12 touchdowns on 137-of-239 passing, amid sparse showings. Some even alleged that the team “destroyed the dudes mental health.” 

As for Boley, he also struggled in his first start, completing just 6-of-15 passes for 48 yards and two interceptions. Boley was then replaced by Gavin Wimsatt. The drama doesn’t end here though. Wimsatt entered the NCAA transfer portal on December 9, placing the Wildcats in a dicey situation.

Having said that,Vandagriff’s NIL value was at a significant $310,000, placing him at No. 305 in the College Football NIL rankings. His retirement is more shocking for Mark Stoops and Co. because he committed to Kentucky within 48 hours of entering the transfer portal, citing that the Wildcats’ offensive style aligned with his aspirations for the next level. A former 5-star recruit with sky-high expectations, Vandagriff had been stuck in the shadows at Kirby Smart’s Georgia, waiting behind QBs like Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck for three long seasons.

Finally, 2024 kicked off on a high note for him. Big-name brands were all over him. By January, he’d inked a deal with The 15 Club, a major NIL partner for college football stars. March? He was endorsing EA Sports’ iconic College Football video game. Then September rolled around, and he added The Dairy Alliance to his growing list of sponsors. The guy was everywhere.

One big selling point when he joined Kentucky? He still had two years of eligibility, which made him a potential cornerstone for offensive stability. But here’s the thing—he just couldn’t deliver on the field. So now, with Brock Vandagriff stepping away, it’s time to look ahead. What’s next for Kentucky’s QB room in 2025?

What’s next for Kentucky’s quarterback room?

It is surprising to see quarterback Brock Vandagriff leaving and not using his final season of eligibility at Kentucky or anywhere else. Vandagriff’s career wasn’t easy. When UK coach Mark Stoops made the call to start freshman Cutter Boley for the regular-season finale against Louisville, it became clear that Vandagriff’s future with the team was uncertain. Despite having two years of eligibility left when he transferred, he struggled to perform consistently enough for the coaches to feel confident about him as the starter moving forward.

Kentucky’s offensive line had its share of issues this season, ranking among the worst in college football. The physical toll of repeated hits seemed to affect Vandagriff both physically and mentally as the season wore on. He missed part of the Tennessee game due to a head injury and struggled upon his return against Murray State and Texas. And Vandagriff is leaving now. So what’s next?

Backup Gavin Wimsatt already entered the transfer portal; Boley is now the only scholarship quarterback remaining on Kentucky’s roster. He will compete with Zach Calzada, who transferred from Incarnate Word and is expected to be a strong contender for the starting job in spring practice.

See, Calzada brings a wealth of experience having led Texas A&M to an upset victory over No. 1 Alabama during his time there. After transferring to Auburn and then Incarnate Word, he’s now looking to make an impact in the SEC with Kentucky. But Vandagriff’s absence will definitely leave a void in the squad that’s tough to fill.
<