College football’s transfer portal received a record-setting number of entries in its opening week of 2024. Of the more than 1,200 players currently in the portal, 11 are quarterbacks from the state of Georgia.
Brock Vandagriff is the most notable portal entry of the former Georgia high school quarterbacks. The 2021 four-star from Prince Avenue Christian saw limited playing time at Georgia, resulting in his transfer to Kentucky. Vandagriff filled the high school record books with the Wolverines, and he still ranks within the top 15 all-time in career passing yards, career passing touchdowns, and passing yards in a single season.
Three other SEC quarterbacks entered the portal within the last month. Former Oconee County star Max Johnson was the earliest, announcing his transfer from Texas A&M to North Carolina. Vanderbilt’s AJ Swann (Cherokee) and South Carolina’s Colten Gauthier (Hebron Christian) followed suit a week later.
All three quarterbacks were prolific passers at their respective high schools, combining for more than 19,000 yards and leading their squads to playoff berths. Johnson lead the Warriors to the state championship game in 2019.
Two MAC quarterbacks also elected to find new homes for next season. Cedar Grove alumnus Austin Smith turned in two solid years with the Eastern Michigan Eagles; he has yet to announce his transfer destination. In high school, Smith won back-to-back state championships with the Saints, defeating Peach County in 2018 and Crisp County in 2019.
Kent State’s Griffin Brewster (Darlington) never won a state title, but he did enjoy some postseason success. His sophomore and junior seasons both ended with quarterfinals appearances, and the Tigers never lost before the playoffs’ second weekend under his command.
More notable figures have emerged into the portal recently. NC State’s MJ Morris was a household name during his time at Pace Academy and Carrollton. Morris passed for 3,081 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2021, and, more importantly, he managed to lead the Trojans into the semifinals for the first time since 2013.
Fulton and Cobb County residents may remember Jarrett Guest (Kennesaw Mountain, Coastal Carolina) and Max Brosmer (Centennial, New Hampshire). Brosmer recently committed to Minnesota, while Guest is still exploring options.
Also in the portal is former South Paulding and Colorado quarterback Kasen Weisman. Weisman was a dynamic playmaker for the Spartans, and he was instrumental in ranked upsets of Rome and Douglas County in 2021.
Lastly, Dexter Williams II entered the portal in late November. The Mount de Sales passer announced his transfer from Indiana after seeing limited playing time. With the Cavaliers, though, Williams was borderline unstoppable. In 2019, when Mount de Sales remained in the GHSA, Williams led his squad to an undefeated regular season and the school’s first region championship since 1997.
The college football transfer portal officially opened on December 4. With much time remaining before the start of next season, who will be the next among former Georgia high school quarterbacks to join these 11?
