Expectations were high for the Virginia Tech football team entering 2024 and when the dust settled, it was another disappointing season with the Hokies finishing 6-7 after a Duke's Mayo Bowl loss to Minnesota in January. That created coaching staff changes which included both coordinators leaving.
When Tyler Bowen left for Ohio State in February to take the offensive line coaching job, Brent Pry was left scrambling for his replacement. He settled on former Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery who brings a ton of experience as both a coordinator and as the head guy.
He has knowledge of returning Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones and that may prove to be huge when they hit the ground running this week for spring practices. One national college football writer listed one question for each ACC team this spring and their one for Virginia Tech is an interesting one.
Chip Patterson of CBS Sports has an interesting question facing the Hokies this spring
Chip Patterson of CBS Sports has one question for each ACC football team entering the spring and his for the Hokies is "Can Philip Montgomery unlock the best of Kyron Drones?"
That is actually a great question. Under Bowen, just when it appeared last season that he was getting close to unlocking the Baylor transfer, it would be one step forward, two steps back. Now, whether that had to do with Bowen or Drones, that could be up for debate. Drones wasn't always great with his reads down field.
Montgomery comes in with coordinator experience, something you couldn't say about Bowen. This season Drones isn't going into the season with the same amount of offensive playmakers that he had last season, but he will have some hungry young players ready to prove themselves with some transfers. If Montgomery can unlock Drones this year, it could be a very interesting 2025 season for Virginia Tech.