Brent Pry confirms Kyron Drones will start, provides update on Grant Wells

Virginia Tech has been without starting quarterback Grant Wells since the second week of the season due to injury, but that could change this week if he’s able to get through some practices without issue.

Of course, for now the starting job belongs to the man that replaced him: Kyron Drones.

“Kyron’s the guy right now,” coach Brent Pry said. “I think he’s playing pretty good. Not perfect, certainly, but giving us a chance. And Grant’s still kind of climbing out of this injury. He’s much closer.”

Drones has just a 1-3 record so far as the starter but has shown some positive signs in his playing time with Wells out. He hasn’t turned it over much, for one.

He’s also offered a jolt in the run game, where he has churned out 285 yards and four scores this season.

As a passer, Drones is a little bit more limited. He’s got a 55.4% completion percentage and has thrown for 721 yards and four touchdowns, against just one interception.

Wells was the team’s starter going into the year before he suffered a leg injury in the game against Purdue. He has yet to return, unable to get medical clearance to this point.

Pry is hoping that changes this week.

“I’m hoping he gets some team reps today, that’s the way it sounds right now,” Pry said on Tuesday. “But it’s unfortunate that this thing has taken as long as it has, but we’ll see where Grant is and keep bringing (William “Pop” Watson) along. That’s where it stands today.”

Watson hasn’t yet recorded any statistics at quarterback, serving as the emergency backup while Wells is out. Presumably Wells would take the backup slot to Drones at least initially, until he can prove he’s fully healthy and the more capable option again.

Prior to his injury, Wells had thrown for 494 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. But he’s got a wealth of experience, some that even predates his time at Virginia Tech.

Wells, who began his career at Marshall before transferring to Virginia Tech, has passed for 8,288 yards and 48 touchdowns in his career, while throwing 33 interceptions.

In the 2022 campaign at Virginia Tech, Grant Wells went 196-of-332 passing for 2,171 yards, with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also ran for 212 yards and six scores.

Virginia Tech returns to action this weekend against Wake Forest, meeting at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday with a broadcast on the ACC Network.