After a week off, it's back to business for the Virginia Tech football team. Their first bye of the 2025 season couldn't have come at a better time for a team that is 2-5 and dealing with injuries.
Virginia Tech returns to the field on a short week with California visiting Lane Stadium on Friday night on ESPN at 7:30. Just how healthy the Hokies will be remains to be seen, but on Tuesday, interim coach Philip Montgomery provided some injury updates that are heading in the right direction.
Clemson defensive back transfer Sherrod Covil has been injured most of the season, but it appears that he's getting closer to a return. Montgomery listed him as day-to-day against the Golden Bears. As for cornerback Thomas Williams, Montgomery said his injury was not season-ending against Georgia Tech two weeks ago and is going in the right direction. Any injury news that is good news at this point for Virginia Tech.
"It wasn't season-ending," Montgomery said. "He had a good week during the bye week as far as trying to get healthy. We'll see how the rest of the week goes."
Montgomery pleased with team's resilience
When Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry after a Week 3 loss to Old Dominion, it sent shock waves through the program. Some players have taken advantage of entering the Transfer Portal and saved a year of eligibility for their next stop. Others have chosen to ride it out in 2025 for various reasons, but Montgomery is happy with the way things are going with all the noise about an uncertain future for everyone in Blacksburg.
"Everybody's affected by what occurred early in the season," Montgomery said. "For a lot of our coaches, obviously, they're all trying to figure out what the future holds, but number one, they're staying locked in and pouring into these young men."
They will have to lock in on defense going up against Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. The freshman has thrown for just under 1,700 yards and 10 touchdowns through the Golden Bears' first seven games. He threw for 209 yards and a touchdown in a 21-18 win over North Carolina last Friday night.
"He's young, but he does a nice job of getting the ball out of his hands," said Montgomery. "He's got a good quick release to him. He's got a lot of pop to it, and he gets through his progressions pretty quick. Again, as a young quarterback, I think he's got a really good handle on what they're doing."
This will be a difficult challenge for a depleted Hokies secondary on Friday night at home.