It is amazing how much difference a year can make. This time a year ago, everybody and their brother could not get enough of Virginia Tech star quarterback Kyron Drones. He was a primary reason why the Hokies were poised to make some noise in the ACC, possibly getting to Charlotte if all went according to plan. While it did not hit the fan like it did in Tallahassee, high expectations were not met.
On the other side of the coin in the second of two Aflac Kickoff Games, LaNorris Sellers can seemingly do no wrong heading into this matchup. His South Carolina Gamecocks are coming off a strong season, one that could catapult them into the thick of things in the SEC and into the College Football Playoff. Keep in mind that he was a relative unknown only this time a year ago, Hokies fans...
Simply put, the stage has been set for Drones, Brent Pry and the rest of the Virginia Tech Hokies to have a tremendous game when few in college football expect it. Frankly, maybe more people are anticipating another high-profile upset after Thursday, Friday and Saturday's shenanigans. Teams everybody thought would win like Alabama, Boise State, Clemson and Texas all lost their openers...
If Drones can stay healthy, he could be in the Heisman Trophy conversation at the end of the season.
Kyron Drones had similar Heisman hype as LaNorris Sellers has a year ago
This will be Drones' third year as the starting quarterback for the Hokies after transferring over from Baylor. So far in 22 games for Virginia Tech, he has completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 3,647 yards, 27 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. He does need to be more accurate as a passer, but his ever-present nature to tuck in and run makes him the perfect dark horse Heisman candidate.
Drones has 264 carries for 1,154 yards and 11 additional trips to pay dirt in a Virginia Tech uniform. Naturally, his dual-threat play-making abilities compare him favorably to his South Carolina counterpart in this matchup in Sellers. While South Carolina may have the more talented team coming in, did we not say the same thing about Alabama taking on Florida State this time a day ago?
Overall, this is a new year where anything and everything can happen. Seeing Clemson lose in the non-conference shows everyone in the ACC that the conference's potential juggernaut is more gettable than expected. They also have to play South Carolina this season in the non-conference. For as good as Sellers is, Drones has the tools to be one of the best Virginia Tech players in a long time.
Narratives are starting to take shape early in the year, why not pen your own if you are Drones here?