Source: Mark Umansky

A Hokie Resurgence Under Brent Pry

Carter Atherton

October 23, 2023

In November of 2021, Justin Fuente was ousted as head coach of the Virginia Tech football team, just a week before the last game of the season. A mere 15 days later, Brent Pry, former defensive coordinator at Penn State University, was hired to replace Fuente. After a lackluster first season in 2022, Pry and the Hokies have shown a remarkable turnaround in 2023, but it has not come without its challenges.

Fuente took the helm of the Hokies in November of 2015 succeeding the legendary Frank Beamer after his lustrous 28 year career as head coach. In Fuente’s first season, he followed right where Beamer left off. He and the Hokies finished with a 10-4 record and earned a win in the Belk Bowl. The next year, Justin Fuente led the team to a 9-4 record and another bowl appearance, offering hope to Hokie fans.

However, season 3 for the coach did not follow suit as the Hokies scraped away with a 6-6 record and the first loss to the University of Virginia in 15 years. Seasons four and five with Fuente went on yet another spiral ride while finishing 8-5 in 2019 and then 4-5 in 2020. The last straw for the athletic department, the fanbase and Fuente was the 2021 season, going 6-7 and having an interim head coach, J.C. Price, close out the season.

Fuente’s exit came as no surprise to the fan base, and the appointment of new head coach Brent Pr, injected a new excitement among the Hokie faithful. Pry, known for coaching one of the best defenses in the country, drew comparisons to former defensive coordinator, Bud Foster, a set in stone future Virginia Tech Hall of Fame inductee. However, It was safe to say that Pry’s first year did not meet the high expectations.

Coach Pry’s debut came at the hands of an in-state, non-power five foe, Old Dominion, where the Hokies suffered their first loss of the season. Unfortunately, Pry and the squad could not control their fate the rest of the year, finishing the season with a 3-8 record and ending up as one of the worst ranked teams in the power five conferences.

In the off-season, Brent Pry made significant changes to the staff, adding four special assistants on both sides of the ball to help with the future progression of the team. Pry also shifted the responsibilities of play calling over to defensive coordinator, Chris Marve, and offensive coordinator, Tyler Bowen, ignited a more smooth and new found energy for the Hokies.

Third year student equipment manager, Austin Vick, had a back seat view of the coaching changes. Vick said, “the new coaches bring an energy I have not seen in the locker room since I have been a manager… I know the players feel that [energy] and I hope we can continue to build off the commitment that is [here in the locker room].”

Coach Pry didn’t just stop at the staff, he made significant changes to the players as well. According to TheAthletic, Pry said, “There are no incumbent [roster spots] ... .when you go 3-8, every job is open. I want that.” Coach Pry and the Hokies did just that by adding key players to bolster both competition for field time and add weapons on both sides of the ball. The squad added Bayshul Tuten, Ali Jennings, Da’Quon Felton, Jaylin Lane, Derrick Canteen and Antwan Ryland-Powell from the transfer portal, all becoming immediate starters in 2023.

Source: Virginia Tech Athletics

Redshirt Junior punter and two time captain, Peter Moore, spoke on the changes that Coach Pry had made in the off season, specifically with players coming in to challenge for roster spots. “We weren’t really competitive when Coach Pry got here, and that has taken us another step to the next level….. It’s been a really good change, and it's been great for our team,” said the Maryland native. “We are a lot more competitive now. [Everyone] hates to lose, and that's what we needed in Blacksburg.”

Starting the 2023 season, the Hokies opened their season against Old Dominion, once again. This time, the Hokies came away with a comfortable win with quarterback Grant Wells having one of his best showings as a Hokie. Unfortunately, the Hokies would lose their next game against a tough Purdue team 24-17 in a comeback coming up short and Wells picking up an ankle injury.

The next two games were just as disappointing for the squad. The Hokies, led by their new quarterback, Kyron Drones, dropped two more games on the road to Rutgers and Marshall. When it looked as if it was a repeat of 2022, the Hokies opened ACC play with a dominant win against Pittsburgh, where the Baylor transfer, Drones, threw for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The next game was a challenge in Tallahassee, Florida, where the Hokies took on #4 Florida State. Going down large in the first quarter, the team never could rally. However, the next game, the Hokies took their talents back home to face Wake Forest. Drones and the Hokies showed what they proved the week before in a 30-13 rout of the Demon Deacons with the Hokie quarterback throwing for 380 yards and 2 touchdowns.

While sitting at 3-4, the team and fan base are extremely hopeful for the second half of the season. The Hokies play their final five games against Syracuse, Louisville, Boston College, North Carolina State and the University of Virginia. With the final five games, the Hokies need to get just three wins to be bowl eligible, something the fan base didn't think would be possible.

The Hokies also have a firm chance of making the ACC Championship Game this year after the University of Virginia upset the #10 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. The Hokies only have deciding games left. If they are able to win out and North Carolina beats Duke in November, the Hokies could have a rematch against Florida State to decide who is crowned champion.

Though this season has not been perfect for the Hokies, the future looks promising. Pry and staff have recruited some of the best players in recent years. The Hokies gained 27 3-stars last recruiting season, bringing young depth in the future. Next year, they have already pulled in four 4-stars, two of them being top 300 in the nation according to ESPN, and 12 3-stars to start the 2024 class.

The tools are there for the Hokies to continue their momentum into the rest of the season and in years to come.