Who should start at QB at Rutgers? Making the case for Drones & Wells

Through their first two games of the 2023 season, one thing is clear, the quarterback play for the Virginia Tech football team has been average. The Hokies are 1-1, but if they got better play from starter Grant Wells Saturday against Purdue, they could be 2-0.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda. I get it, however, Wells’ record of 2-10 in one-score games as a starter over three years is not a ringing endorsement to stay under center, especially in close games. One thing that has been made clear by Hokies fans and the play on the field is that a change might do them some good.

Should coach Brent Pry stick with Wells this week when his team goes to Rutgers or does he go to backup Kyron Drones? Let’s make the case for each and decide which is the better option.

Making the case for Wells

Through two games, the senior has thrown for 251 and 243 yards against Old Dominion and Purdue. He has missed some open receivers with long throws and short throws. He has not been on target as well as he could have been.

Saturday against Purdue, it was a weird day. The game was delayed by 21 minutes and then both teams waited out a five-plus hour delay. He lost receivers Ali Jennings and Jaylin Lane to injuries. Jennings was injured early in the first quarter and Lane in the second half. Losing both had big implications in the second half and factor in no running game, it was a difficult position for him to be in.

He took a hit late in the first half and played the second with a noticeable limp and after leading his team back from a 17-point deficit to tie the game at the half, the Hokies failed to generate any points. Playing with the limp severely hampered his mobility. He knows the offense and when accurate he can complete the ball downfield, but he has missed a lot of throws that were there to be completed.

Making the case for Drones

Pry decided to go to Drones on the game’s final drive that started at their own 9-yard line. He completed a pass to Stephen Gosnell to get the ball to the 30, then a pass interference penalty moved the ball to near midfield. Drones then rushed for 13 yards to get the ball into Boilermakers territory, but four straight incompletions turned the ball over on downs.

Why should Pry make the switch to Drones? First, he brings a different dynamic than Wells does with his athleticism and he is always a threat to run. The Hokies can run the option, call running plays for him and as he showed against Purdue, feeling a little more comfortable, he can throw the ball whether it’s a short route to down the field. With no running whatsoever to speak of, just having Drones in as a quarterback can keep an offense off-balanced with the threat of running.

Who should start against Rutgers?

It just feels like a change under center is needed just two games into the season. Wells has been good, but not great. Drones brings a different dimension to the game and sometimes a change can spark a team. Going to play at Rutgers and most likely playing without Jennings and possibly Lane, the signs are there are that they could struggle to move the ball. Playing Drones opens up the playbook more and can bring a spark to an offense that looks lost right now.