Former QB Brock Vandagriff Wins Gatorade Player of the Year in GA

It’s one of the most prestigious awards in all of high school football. The Gatorade Player of the Year award. It’s a BIG deal, and each year it’s presented to be the best player in the state of Georgia. Some recent winners include.... TE Arik Gilbert - Marietta - 2019-2020 season RB Jamious Griffin - Rome - 2018-2019 season QB Trevor Lawrence - Cartersville - 2017-2018 season QB Trevor Lawrence - Cartersville - 2016-2017 season QB Jake Fromm - Houston County - 2015-2016 season ATH AJ Gray - Washington County - 2014-2015 season QB Deshaun Watson - Gainesville - 2013-2014 season   Now it’s time to name a winner for the 2020-2021 season, and the honor goes to five-star QB and current Georgia Bulldog, [player_tooltip player_id="33652" first="Brock" last="Vandagriff"]. The 6-foot-3 205-pounder from Prince Avenue Christian is coming off an incredible senior season where he threw for over 4,100 yards and 46 touchdowns. He also added over 500 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. More importantly, Vandagriff led his team to their first state-championship in school history. And he did it all with an injured knee that he played with throughout the season. There wasn’t much more Vandagriff could’ve done last season. After an early loss to Rabun County, Vandagriff led the Wolverines to 12 consecutive wins and a state championship. Thanks to Prince Avenue’s high-powered passing offense, the Wolverines didn’t have a real test after their week 2 loss. They would score over 40 points in 9 of their last 10 games and had most of their games over with by halftime. Whether it was through the air or on the ground, Vandagriff made defenses pay all year. He was accurate all season in the screen game and on underneath throws, but he really showed his arm strength on intermediate and long-distance throws. He knows how to throw the ball with some zip, but he also puts great touch on the ball when throwing between the linebackers and the secondary. As a coach’s son, Vandagriff knows how to dissect a defense and make the right reads on a consistent basis. He takes care of the football, but knows how to make big plays when the defense makes a mistake. His accuracy down the field is what killed defenses all year. Vandagriff did a great job of leading the offense down the field in a hurry, allowing them to go up by multiple touchdowns early in the game. As a runner, you won’t find many other quarterbacks who can make the plays that he can with his legs. He’s deceptively fast for his size, but his 205-pound frame allows him to get tough yards and fall forward when running the ball. He’s great in the open field and can pick up a lot of yards in a hurry. He already has one of the best and strongest arms in the country, but his ability to make plays with his feet make him one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country. He throws the ball well on the run, he hits his receivers in stride, and plays extremely well under pressure. He plays with passion, toughness, and a winning mentality. Overall, it’s easy to see why he was given the honor. He proved every game why he was a five-star, and he has the stats and a trophy on his resume now as well. https://twitter.com/GVandagriff/status/1392823458619396099?s=20 https://twitter.com/MattDeBary/status/1392828908693766146?s=20