Brent Pry expresses excitement over Virginia Tech getting Ali Jennings back for another year

Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Brent Pry knows that expectations are high for the 2024 season. A big piece of living up to those expectations is going to come down to wide receiver Ali Jennings.

Ahead of the season, Pry shared his excitement to get Jennings back and explained how much he means to the team during games.

“First of all, he’s got such a big personality that, no, it’s not like he just joined us,” Brent Pry said. “He’s been fully invested. He’s been with us a while. I wouldn’t say that. I think we’re all excited to see a complete year out of Ali, what he’s really capable of.”

Ali Jennings was a First-Team All-Sun Belt selection in 2022 when he was at Old Dominion. He transferred to Virginia Tech ahead of the 2023 season. He played two games for the Hokies before his season got cut short due to an injury.

“He’s one of those guys that you come out to practice and you go, ‘Okay, good guy, good player, solid guy.’ And you go out and watch him on Saturdays, and that’s kind of been his career. He outperforms how he plays on game day over practice, which is, to me, kind of rare,” Pry said.

“But I’m excited for him more than anything. I know he can impact our program, our wide receiver room. He’s an older guy, a six-year guy that has a lot of experience and a unique skill set. So, I’m excited about him, certainly going to help us.”

Ali Jennings brings plenty of experience to Virginia Tech. After being a three-star recruit in the Class of 2019, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, he went to West Virginia. After two seasons there, he transferred to Old Dominion before landing at Virginia Tech. In his two games in 2023, Jennings caught five passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns.

For his career, Ali Jennings has played in 42 games. He has 147 career receptions for 2,337 yards and 18 touchdowns. That’s 15.9 yards per reception.

Expectations are high in 2024 on Virginia Tech and Brent Pry. He knows that and recently explained how the Hokies are handling those increased expectations.

“No, I don’t embrace it, but we talk about it. I want them to get pats on the back, I want him to feel good about what people are saying because there were some good accomplishments,” Pry said. “But they also need to understand in the same breath that has no bearing on the team that we’ll be when we go to Nashville, has no bearing on it. It’s the same type of noise, it just sounds different when we were 1-3.”

Brent Pry, Ali Jennings, and the rest of the Hokies will be back in action on August 31st with a road game against Vanderbilt.