Don't blame Collin Schlee for Saturday's epic collapse at Syracuse

Right before kick-off at Syracuse on Saturday, it was announced that Virginia Tech starting quarterback Kyron Drones was not going to play. It was somewhat surprising, but you have to think that the Hokies knew it was highly unlikely that the Baylor transfer could not play and they game-planned for it.

In went UCLA transfer Collin Schlee and he was good. Actually, you could make the case that he was very good. He led two first-half scoring drives that ended up in the end zone and the Hokies took a 14-3 lead into halftime. In the third quarter, he led a third scoring drive that ended with a strike to Ali Jennings for a 21-3 lead.

In the end, it didn’t end up being enough as Virginia Tech’s defense imploded and allowed 28 points over the second half of the third quarter and fourth quarter before winning in overtime, 38-31, to deal the Hokies another gut-wrenching loss in 2024. There is a lot of blame to go around, but there should not be any pointed at Schlee.

Schlee did more than enough to win on Saturday afternoon. He was 16-for-24 through the air for 206 yards, while also hurting the Orange on the ground rushing for 54 yards on 19 carries. He scored a second-quarter touchdown on a keeper. He kept the Syracuse defense off balance all day long by hurting them with his arm and legs. His top target was Stephen Gosnell who had five catches for 118 yards.

He was injured in the fourth quarter on a key drive after Syracuse took a 24-21 lead. After being down, he was forced to come out of the game for one play and that one play ended up in the end zone with Pop Watson handing off to Malachi Thomas for a 15-yard touchdown run. That was the only play the Schlee would miss.

You could tell that whatever the injury was on that drive was bothering him the rest of the game as in overtime, he had a chance to run in the potential tying touchdown, but instead of going for it, he threw an incomplete pass. He later fumbled the ball after taking a big hit with the Hokies down seven to end the game. Again, not his fault.

Going into the game, if you had told Brent Pry that his team would be leading, 21-3, midway through the third quarter without Drones and running Bhayshul Tuten, he would have taken it and ran with it. Schlee protected the ball, ran the offense, and made some big throws and runs. Regardless of what happened in overtime, Schlee deserved a better result and feeling leaving the JMA Wireless Dome. Again, the finger can be pointed for why Tech is 5-4 preparing for Clemson this week, but it should not be pointed at Schlee.