In a surprising twist, Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff has announced his retirement from football after just one season as the Wildcats’ starting signal-caller, as first reported by Jon Hale of the Lexington Herald-Leader on Sunday. Vandagriff, who completed 57% of his passes for 1,593 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, has decided to step away from the game despite having one year of eligibility remaining.
The Wildcats’ 2024 season was a challenging one, as they posted a disappointing 4-8 record, including a 1-7 mark in SEC play, missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 2015. Vandagriff’s decision comes after his lone year under center, where the struggles of the team mirrored his personal journey.
Before his time at Kentucky, the 6-foot-3, 217-pound quarterback spent three years at Georgia, where he threw for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns in a backup role. With his retirement, the Wildcats now look to rebuild at the quarterback position.
Kentucky’s backup QB in 2024, former Rutgers player Gavin Wimsatt, also made waves by entering the transfer portal earlier this month after a brief stint in Lexington. However, the Wildcats have already made moves to strengthen their QB room by landing Zach Calzada from Incarnate Word. Calzada, who spent his first two college seasons at Texas A&M, is coming off a stellar 2024 season, throwing for 3,744 yards, 35 touchdowns, and rushing for five touchdowns.
With key changes at quarterback, Kentucky’s future is set to take a new direction, and fans will be eagerly watching the Wildcats’ next move in a rapidly evolving roster.
