National CFB writer's ranking for Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry is rather low

On3 Sports Jesse Simonton ranked all 17 ACC football coaches and Brent Pry of Virginia Tech was ranked 12th out of the 17 coaches. It’s not hard to argue where Pry is ranked and it feels a little too low. In two seasons, he’s 10-14 taking a rebuild after Justin Fuente, and things were looking somewhat bleak early last fall until ACC play began. Sitting at 1-3, the Hokies went 5-3 in conference play to become bowl-eligible.

Pry, however, has hit it big rather quickly in a couple of key areas that are going to speed up the rebuild in Blacksburg. First off, he has struck it big the last two offseasons in the transfer portal, which is a big part of his roster this upcoming season. Kyron Drones at quarterback, Bhayshul Tutun at running back, and wide receivers that have committed to coming back set Tyler Bowen and Pry up to have a very good season offensively.

On the defensive side, just like on offense, retention will play a big key in 2024 with Dorian Strong, Mansoor Delane, Antwaun Powell-Ryland, and Josh Fuga among some of the players who have decided to come back for another season. Add in transfers Aeneas Peebles, Kemari Copeland, Kelvin Gilliam, and Sam Brumfield, Pry is doing what the powerhouse programs do in the current state of college football, reload through the transfer portal. It’s college sports today.

"Pry’s head coaching career got off to an inauspicious start (3-8, 1-6 in ACC play in Year 1), but the former Penn State defensive coordinator stayed the course, added some key pieces from the transfer portal (Kyron Drones, tailback Bhayshul Tuten and pass rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland) and led the program to its first winning season (7-6) since 2019. The Hokies’ defense made real strides last fall, and the offense, particularly when Dones became the starter by midseason, was awesome down the stretch. With a roster that returns Top-10 production nationally, Va. Tech might be a sleeper ACC contender under Pry in Year 3."

- Jesse Simonton

Recruiting is starting to take shape for Virginia Tech and keeping the in-state recruits was a goal of Pry’s and it’s happening slowly starting with the Class of 2025. He has been out with his coaches forming connections with high school coaches which will only help in the future.

If things go as planned this season, Pry should be ranked higher when the dust settles, but it will be interesting to see what other national writers think as the season gets closer. Certainly feels like he should be higher.