Brent Pry addresses Pop Watson’s return from suspension

On Wednesday, September 20th, Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry announced that freshman quarterback William “Pop” Watson III would be suspended indefinitely. Now, he’s been reinstated and has returned to the program.

During Pry’s press conference on Tuesday, he addressed Watson’s return from suspension.

“Pop is back,” Brent Pry said. “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. 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.”

Pop Watson was suspended due to a violation of team rules, and while Virginia Tech didn’t announce the exact rule he broke, Watson’s father posted on Facebook that it was due to missing curfew.

Following his suspension, Pop Watson took to Twitter. There, he apologized for his actions.

“I want to apologize to my family, team, coaches and fans of VT football for my immature decision which led to me being suspended from the team,” Watson wrote. “I take full responsibility for my actions. I made a poor decision and for that the game I love has been taken away.”

Watson added that he can’t promise to never make a mistake again, because he’s not perfect, but that he will make team first decisions and grow from his mistake.

Pop Watson was the 2022  Massachusetts Gatorade High School Football Player of the Year. He played at Springfield Central in Massachusetts where, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, he was a three-star recruit. He was the 817th-ranked overall prospect and 44th-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2023. At one point, he was committed to play for Nebraska before flipping to Virginia Tech.

Brent Pry suspended Pop Watson amid issues at the quarterback position for the Hokies. Grant Wells returned to Virginia Tech after starting last season but has been injured. In his place, Kyron Drones has played inconsistently, losing to Rutgers and Marshall.

Brent Pry provides update on Grant Wells’ recovery

Grant Wells hasn’t played since being injured against Purdue on September 9th. Despite that, Brent Pry still doesn’t know when the Hokies are going to get him back this season.

“Unfortunately I would tell you I don’t think he was much closer this [past] week. There was some progress, but not enough to get excited about,” Pry said. “I think he was a little bit better Sunday. Pushed the envelope more. I think he was a little better Sunday. So today is a big day, I think, to see where he can get.”