Brock Vandagriff's run game was the issue
Bush Hamdan didn’t sugarcoat it when speaking to the media—nor should he have. He said the quiet part out loud.
In his second year as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator, Hamdan acknowledged what many fans already knew about 2024: “mistakes were made.” But hearing that level of honesty from a sitting SEC coach? That’s rare air.
It was a brutally ineffective season offensively. The Wildcats went 4–8 and scored more than 20 points just three times against Power 5 competition. Quarterback Brock Vandagriff, once a 5-star Georgia product, struggled mightily in his only year as a starter before retiring. He threw just 10 touchdowns to 8 interceptions and averaged a meager 6.57 yards per attempt. His rushing stats were worse—90 carries for just 131 yards, when factoring in sack yardage.
The offense never found a groove, and the play calling rarely inspired confidence. Kentucky opened the year recruiting Rutgers transfer Gavin Wimsatt—an early sign the staff wasn’t fully sold on Vandagriff. But Hamdan stuck with him, even calling designed runs that left Vandagriff exposed to SEC-level punishment. “We’ve got to be smart about that,” Hamdan said this offseason, reflecting on his decision-making. “That player is going to get hit enough. I certainly own that.”
The results spoke for themselves. The Wildcats mustered just 6 points against South Carolina, 12 against Georgia, 13 versus Vandy, and closed the year with a 14-point dud against Louisville. The offense consistently disappeared in critical stretches—and often took the defense down with it.
But give Hamdan credit for facing the music. He owned his role in last season’s collapse. Now the question becomes: can he fix it?
Zach Calzada is the presumed starter entering fall camp. And unlike last year, there seems to be more clarity, more cohesion, and—Kentucky hopes—more toughness. If Hamdan’s lessons lead to smarter play calls and a stronger identity, maybe 2025 won’t be déjà vu.
If not, the noise will get louder—and so will the calls for change.