And when he took over as the Hokies’ coach in November, Pry reflected on his years under Beamer and began applying some of the lessons he learned as a graduate assistant from 1995 to 1997.
Among the most important parts was the expansion of quality depth in all areas. The roster overhaul left Virginia Tech with two quarterbacks who combined for 35 pass attempts and a general lack of contributors last season.
“We’re still a work in progress,” he said at the final news conference of preseason camp last week. “Our depth in most areas on our team needs to continue to grow every week. It doesn’t stop because the season starts. We need to continue to develop depth throughout the year.
As the Hokies shift into game-week mode ahead of Friday’s opener against Old Dominion in Norfolk, Pry is at least set to be the starting quarterback, with recent transfer Grant Wells announcing he won the job after competing with Jason Brown.
Wells is a redshirt junior who played his first two seasons at Marshall and was named the 2020 Conference USA Freshman of the Year after leading the league with 2,091 passing yards and 18 touchdown passes. He was also the first freshman quarterback to be named first team all-conference.
Wells, whose father graduated from Virginia Tech, became an immediate target for Pry and his crew when he revealed that he had entered the transfer portal. He also has ties to former employees in Blacksburg; He drew high school recruiting interest from ousted former coach Justin Fuente.
The transfer portal was a quick fix at quarterback, with Connor Blumrick, last year’s top backup, to tight end and Tahj Bullock, another backup, appearing in just one game. Bullock is set to be the third-string quarterback this season.
“This whole camp thought I was the guy, before I got the official nod or something,” said Wells, who was named one of Hockey’s seven captains. “Now I’ve changed that mindset to realizing that I’m a human being and I’ve played that leadership role.”
In addition to helping Wells, first-year offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen is on the decline in the running back rotation because of undisclosed illnesses to Malachi Thomas and Jalen Holston during camp.
Thomas, who started three games last season, racked up 440 yards on 93 carries was “week-to-week,” Pry said, but Holston was held out with a “minor injury” as a precaution.
It’s unclear if any of them will be available for the opening. Backups Keshawn King, Chance Black, Kenji Christian and Bryce Duke are getting more carries in practice.
“We’re right in the thick of it, and there’s a lot of trouble going on,” Prie said. “There’s pushing things. There are depth chart battles, injuries to overcome. It has to be because there is so much going on. Camp is supposed to be tough, and we’re doing an important test camp where we want to be.
Prim described tight end Benji Gosnell as the first player to verbally commit to Virginia Tech since the school parted ways with Fuente. Pry declined to specify the injury but confirmed it was unrelated to the torn ACL and medial collateral ligament the promising freshman and four-star recruit in high school.
Gosnell’s update came shortly after Pry announced wide receiver Dalan Wright would be out for the season with an injury, reducing depth at a position that lost three of its top four players in receptions and yards from last season.
“If you’re talking about depth, we need to improve in every area right now,” Pry said. “But more specifically, we need two more receivers to get to the point where we feel like we can win. We need to continue to establish depth on the offensive line. We need to establish depth and, frankly, nail down a starter at linebacker. We need to create depth in the secondary.”
The race to start at weakside linebacker is tightrope between Jaden Keller, a redshirt freshman, and Alan Tisdale, a redshirt senior. Tisdale offers valuable experience with fifth-year senior Dax Holyfield, but Keller has repeatedly earned high praise from the coaching staff for his instincts and athleticism.
As far as the defensive backfield goes, the starters are established with Chamari Conner and Nasir Peeples at safety and Armani Chatman and Dorian Strong at cornerback. Other than redshirt senior Brion Murray, the rest of the team played limited games.
“Chamari and Nasir have been very valuable reps for this team for years. Guys have different intricacies of the game, and things to look forward to,” said Pearson Prioleau, the Hokies’ standout safeties coach from 1995 to 1998.
