Virginia Tech Football: Comparing Kyron Drones & Grant Wells in 2023

Planning has begun for Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry and his staff for their biggest test of the 2023 season so far when they travel to fifth-ranked Florida State on Saturday afternoon. The Hokies have some momentum coming off a 38-21 win over Pittsburgh last Saturday night at Lane Stadium as they head to Tallahassee.

Quarterback Kyron Drones will start again for Virginia Tech against the Seminoles coming off a five-touchdown performance against the Panthers. Starting quarterback Grant Wells is still nursing an ankle injury, but eventually, you have to think at some point this season, the senior will be ready to return and will make Pry decide between the two.

Comparing Kyron Drones and Grant Wells’ 2023 season

On Tuesday at his weekly media session, the second-year coach said that he doesn’t need to make a decision because Wells is still on the mend from his injury sustained in Week 2 against Purdue. When the time comes when Wells is cleared, the decision as to who starts is a no-brainer for the Hokies.

Unless an injury occurs, Drones should be the starter for Virginia Tech when Wells is healthy. He has been getting better and better with each of his starts, and against Pittsburgh, he showed how he can be more beneficial than Wells.

He threw three touchdown passes, ran for another, and accounred for all five Hokie touchdowns. His scrambling ability is his strength when the blocking breaks down, but his ability to stay in the pocket and take a hit to throw a touchdown pass to Jaylin Lane in the third quarter was impressive from someone making just their third collegiate start. Let’s compare the two QBs stats in their games played this year.

Grant Wells 2023 stats

• 33-for-62 passing for a completion rate of 53.2%
• 494 passing yards for an average of 8.0 yards per completion
• five touchdowns
• two interceptions
• 140.3 QBR

Kyron Drones 2023 stats

• 53-for-94 passing for a completion rate of 56.4%
• 617 passing yards for an average of 6.6 yards per completion
• four touchdowns
• one interception
• 123.4 QBR

For the first time in two seasons, Virginia Tech’s offense looked the best it has in the Pry and Tyler Bowen era Saturday night against Pittsburgh. Right now, Drones is the option that is best for the Hokies and he will be when Wells is cleared by the medical staff. Over the final seven games, Tech needs to 4-3 to qualify for a Bowl Game and Drones gives the best chance to do that. Not saying it’s going to happen, but if it does, it will have to be done with the transfer QB under center.