Brent Pry updates quarterback competition following Virginia Tech spring game

Virginia Tech has a new coach for the 2022 campaign and former Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry hasn’t made up his mind at the starting quarterback position this early in the offseason.

While everything is speculation as of now, Pry aggressively added Grant Wells (Marshall) and Jason Brown (South Carolina) through the transfer portal and those two got most of the snaps on Saturday.

When asked if he’s made a firm decision at naming the Hokies’ 2022 signal caller following the spring game on Saturday, Pry gave a blunt and honest assessment of where his team stands.

“No I wouldn’t say that,” Pry said. “I thought Grant played really well today. Obviously Jason and the offensive line struggled a little bit for the White group and that was tough on Jason. But Grant obviously threw some good balls and had a good first half out there. But we will evaluate the film and continue to work though the summer and we will take that competition into preseason camp.”

Last season, Virginia Tech struggled to move the ball through the air, particularly downfield.

The Hokies finished 2021 ranked No. 112 nationally in passing (176.4 yards per game) and the previous staff became increasingly reluctant to throw the ball. Only eight FBS teams attempted fewer passes in the month of November than the Hokies (19.8 attempts per game).

Who has the edge to take over as Virginia Tech starting QB?

As it stands, there five quarterbacks on the Hokies’ 2022 roster.

Connor Blumrick and Tahj Bullock return from the previous staff and Pry obviously added Wells and Brown to the 2022 roster. The fifth is freshman Devin Farrell who is likely fighting for a backup job this spring.

Shortly after Virginia Tech started practices, the Hokies’ new head coach was clear the quarterback competition would be competitive and he wouldn’t rush the decision.

“I think it’s a healthy competition,” Pry said, in February. “I think there’s a wide variety of skills and age groups. … We were very straightforward with these guys. The competition this spring, obviously Coach [Tyler] Bowen and I, we’re going to give each of these guys an opportunity with the first group.”

As of now, it appears Brown and Wells appear to be the frontrunners.

Brown led the Gamecocks to wins over Florida and Auburn and started four games for South Carolina last season. Wells has significant experience as a starter but has never played against a Power Five opponent and has had little success against teams with a winning record.

It’s difficult to see if Bullock or Blumrick have a skillset that will mesh with the vision of new offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen, so while Wells clearly had the best outing during a single half of the spring game, there won’t be a firm decision to name the Virginia Tech starting quarterback anytime soon.