BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – For a Virginia Tech football team that went 6-6 in the 2024 regular season, many could categorize the year as disappointing.
Even still, the Hokies felt on the cusp of a breakthrough, as five of those losses happened in one score games, including a pair of heartbreaking overtime losses.
“We’re diving into situational football more than we ever have here. It’s intentional,” notes fourth year Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry. “There’s some aspect of game situation on offense, defense, or special teams in every single practice we do right now.”
During the offseason, the Hokie coaching staff saw a shake up in the hiring of new offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery and former NFL linebackers Sam Siefkes at defensive coordinator. Additionally, Jarrett Ferguson is assuming a new role in strength and conditioning.
“Our new OC, Coach Monty, he instilled a lot of confidence throughout the offense with the offense that he runs. A lot of getting the ball to playmakers and letting them do what they do and I’m really excited to show that off,” explains redshirt senior quarterback Kyron Drones.
“Coach Siefkes is a great coach and he’s really good at expanding your football IQ on and off the field. He always has a little nugget of information and the guys are soaking it in and taking it in each and every day,” adds redshirt senior linebacker Jaden Keller.
In addition, Tech also added depth through the transfer portal highlighted by talent at running back and on the offensive line.
Coach Pry believes these changes, paired with an emphasis on situational play, make up some of the vital ingredients that were missing during last year’s lackluster finish.
“More guys that are comfortable in situations and I’m not just talking about players, it’s coaches as well, that we’ve been in this situation, we’ve thought through it, we’ve talked through it. The situations may never come up, but they might. So I feel good about the investment there. It’s been helpful for us,” says Coach Pry.
First test comes against South Carolina on August 31.
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