The Virginia Tech Hokies have been looking for an identity since Hall of Fame Coach Frank Beamer left almost a decade ago. Current head coach Brent Pry is entering his fourth season with a 16-21 overall record and is looking to help the Hokies move out of the bottom of the ACC.
Last season, Virginia Tech started poorly but should have beaten a strong Miami team if it wasn’t for a controversial call on a Hail Mary touchdown that was overturned after review. The biggest positive of 2024 was winning three straight conference games by a combined 60 points.
However, injuries plagued the Hokies after dual-threat Quarterback Kyren Drones suffered a severe injury, causing the team to falter. The roster will undergo a complete overhaul once again for Coach Pry, with very few players returning.
Let’s break down what year four will look like under Pry in what could be a crucial season for him after a tough showing in his first three seasons so far.
Virginia Tech Exceeds Expectations in 2025
Offense
The Hokies will have the same signal caller as the past two seasons, with Drones coming back for his third year. So far, the electrifying passer has thrown for 3,646 yards and rushed for 1,377 yards, following other great Virginia Tech quarterbacks such as Tyrod Taylor and Michael Vick.
To help Drones, they brought in new offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery, who helped Robert Griffin III win a Heisman Trophy during his time at Baylor.
Meanwhile, Bowling Green transfer Terion Stewart will be leading the charge at the running back position in what is expected to be a rotational position. Stewart is considered one of the best backs when it comes to yards-after-contact. He will share the workload with Brayden Bennett, who transferred from Coastal Carolina, and Marcellous Hawkins from Central Missouri. All three rushers combined for 2,762 yards and 35 touchdowns last season.
The most important position on this side of the ball will be the Offensive Line. The team lost all five starters from 2024 and brought in their third Offensive Line coach, Matt Moore, in Pry’s four seasons. Moore brought over transfer Tomas Rimac from West Virginia, who is expected to be the best player on the line going into 2025.
Defense
Coach Pry got rid of Defensive Coordinator Chris Marve after three years, bringing on Sam Siefkes, who was the linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals last year. The hope is to give a new look to a defense that has been susceptible to giving up points over the past few seasons.
The Defensive Line should be the strongest position on that side of the ball. It’s a mix of transfers and returners from last season. Kemari Copeland and Kelvin Gilliam Jr. will be forces on the interior and will be paired with edge rushers James Djonkam from Eastern Michigan and Ben Bell coming from Texas State.
However, question marks remain at Linebacker and in the Secondary. The Linebacker position has been a weakness since Pry took over. However, he will have both his leading tacklers from last season, as Jaden Keller and Caleb Woodson stayed for another season.
On the back end, the secondary will have more depth than last season. The Hokies added four safety transfers, with three of them, including Christian Ellis of New Mexico, Tyson Flowers from Rice, and Isaiah Cash transferring from Sam Houston, combining for five interceptions and 15 pass breakups.
Prediction
Wins: Vanderbilt, Old Dominion, Wofford, NC State, Wake Forest, Cal, Miami,
Losses: at South Carolina, at Georgia Tech, Louisville, at Florida State, at Virginia
Record: 7-5
The Hokies avoided Clemson this season and face a favorable schedule. This could determine Coach Pry’s job security heading into 2026. Pry has pulled out all the stops by making a change at coordinator on both sides of the ball. Look for this to be Pry’s most talented roster since he took over at Virginia Tech.
National Ranking: 55
Main Image: © Peter Casey-Imagn Images
