LOS ANGELES — Brock Vandagriff places more value in being a Georgia quarterback than any numbers could possible quantify, and that’s why he’s not planning on going anywhere anytime soon.
It’s also why Vandagriff, despite playing just 11 snaps in three games this season, has always been all in with the Bulldogs and cherishes the opportunity to learn from offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
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“Over my past two years being here, if I hadn’t been learning as much as I’ve been learning, then I would have already left,” Vandagriff said two days before Georgia’s 65-7 victory over TCU.
“But under Coach Monken, just being in his system is invaluable. Every rep I get when I’m out there is invaluable, and Gunner (Stockton) and Carson (Beck) would say the same thing.”
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Monken has separated himself among collegiate offensive coordinators, the highest-paid in the industry and certainly the most efficient.
Both J.T. Daniels and Stetson Bennett set program records for season pass efficiency rating, and with the receivers Georgia has returning and coming via the portal, it’s possible and perhaps even likely more records will be broken next season.
Vandagriff, a former 5-star recruit who has plans to graduate from UGA this fall, noted how valuable the lessons have been.
“Whether you’re getting 10 reps or 30 reps at practice, or 40, whatever your number is, if you go through those reps and take them seriously, and Coach Monken watches them with you after in the position meetings, then that is invaluable,” Vandagriff said.
“To be able to get his input on what you are doing, and what you’re putting out there, of course you’re trying to get better, and he’s on it,” he said. “And hopefully the competition will come this spring, and we’ll see how it goes.”
Georgia didn’t split up its quarterback reps as it has in past years, with Bennett dominating the snap count to run up numbers that enabled him to become a Heisman Trophy finalist:
• Bennett, 980 snaps, 15 games
• Beck, 89 snaps, 7 games
• Vandagriff, 11 snaps, 3 games
• Stockton, 0 snaps, 0 games
Smart commented about Georgia’s intense practice competition leading to the title game, and how Stockton asked to come out of a non-contact jersey to help the defense get dialed in for TCU.
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Vandagriff loves that sort of competition as much as anyone, spending most all of the 2021 season on the scout team wearing a red jersey that allowed the Bulldogs’ No. 1 defense to hit him in practices, too.
In addition to the competition, practicality and value of learning from Monken, the quarterbacks also learn to work together closely.
Vandagriff, whose father, Greg, is a championship coach at Prince Avenue Christian in nearby Bogart, understands the dynamics of his situation as well as anyone.
“The quarterback position is a unique thing, it’s not like the linebacker room or the O-Line, there’s one guy playing and I think it’s pretty important to support the guy that’s playing,” Vandagriff said.
“You want to know you can come back after a play and say, ‘what did you see on this play. and what did you see on that play,’ and get honest answers.”
Beyond the practicality of that sort of arrangement, there’s also a comfort to it.
“I look at everybody in the quarterback room as my friends, and I’d say everyone else feels the same,” Vandagriff said. “But we compete outside; we play pool, we play ping pong, it’s just a good dynamic that we have going.”
But it always goes back to football and learning from Monken, who understands better than anyone how to get the most out of quarterbacks.
“The thing I love about Coach Monken is everything he tells you, there’s a reason why,” Vandagriff explained. “I guess it’s because he’s an NFL guy, but everything he does is statistically driven — there’s stats for everything, and there’s answers for everything
“I appreciate that as a quarterback, because you know why we’re doing this, or why we’re looking here on certain plays
He’s just a great coach in my opinion.”
Vandagriff has visions of playing on game days, sooner or later, and being ready when his number is called.
“Me and my dad during the recruiting process, we would say, ‘Would you rather go somewhere and get thrown in the fire right away, and maybe not be as prepared you want, and maybe not have the guys around you as you would want?’ " he said.
“Or would you rather go to a place like Georgia and know you are going to get developed by one of the best play callers in the nation, one of the best offensive coordinators in the nation under Coach Monken.
“And that when you do get your chance. whether it’s at Georgia or somewhere else, you know you’re prepared. And under Coach Monken, I feel I’m prepared and I’ve learned more than ever.”
