Brent Pry addresses new philosophy to filling quarterback position
In head coach Brent Pry‘s second season with Virginia Tech, the Hokies have had issues at the quarterback position. With the injury to Grant Wells, Virginia Tech has been playing Kyron Drones in his place.
Clearly, filling the quarterback position is important, but how that’s done is also changing. During his weekly press conference, Pry was asked about the position and if it was going to be more based on bringing in freshmen to develop or transfer players.
“I think most people have gone to the model you’re talking about,” Brent Pry said. “I think everybody will at least have some feelers in the portal for quarterbacks. If you don’t have an incumbent that had a lot of success and that you’re super excited about and confident in, you’re gonna see what’s available. I think that’s more and more the way this thing will go.”
Ahead of his first season at Virginia Tech, Brent Pry brought Grant Wells into the program from Marshall as a transfer. The goal was to bring in an experienced player to stabilize what he says is an incredibly important position.
“I think that’s very important. That guy touches the ball each and every snap. He’s got to have good supporting pieces around him, but it just makes the road a lot tougher if that guy’s not playing winning football.”
Ultimately, Brent Pry is a defensive coach. That’s his background. So, when it comes to quarterbacks, he relies on his assistants and those in the industry that he respects much of the time.
“Yeah, being a defensive guy, I’m going to listen to people I respect in the business as well as our current staff. I think you’re always learning as a coach. That never stops. I’m not gonna sit up here and act like I know as much about offense and quarterback play as I do about defense. So, you’ve got to reach out. You’ve got to ask the questions because you’ve got to keep getting better there.”
Grant Wells returned as Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback from last. However, he hasn’t played since being injured against Purdue. For now, Brent Pry doesn’t have more information about when he’ll be back, though.
“Unfortunately I would tell you I don’t think he was much closer this [past] week,” Brent Pry said. “There was some progress, but not enough to get excited about.”
Brent Pry addresses Pop Watson’s return from suspension
Freshman quarterback William “Pop” Watson III was suspended by Virginia Tech for a violation of team rules. Now, he’s back with the program and Brent Pry is happy to have him back, though he’ll need to earn back trust.
“Pop is back. He’s got some requirements that he has to do, but he’s back in the locker room, he’s back in the building, he’s working his butt off,” Pry said.
“Started with us yesterday or Sunday, but he’s got some things to do to earn trust back and respect, and he wants to do that. He’s very committed to it and so he’ll certainly be out there.”