There have been a lot of changes through the first six weeks of the season for the Virginia Tech football team. First, head coach Brent Pry was fired after a Week 3 home loss to Old Dominion, which triggered a 30-day opening of the Transfer Portal. Some players, including cornerback Dante Lovett and wide receiver/punt returner Tucker Holloway, took advantage of the opportunity.
Then, interim coach Philip Montgomery lost some other players who either entered the portal or left the program. As if that wasn't enough, injuries have begun to pile up on both sides of the ball, which is something that every team goes through.
At 2-4, the Hokies will head south to Atlanta this weekend for a game against 13th-ranked and undefeated Georgia Tech and talented quarterback Haynes King. It is not going to be easy to rebound from a frustrating loss to Wake Forest at home last Saturday, and questions surrounding the health of some players aren't going to make it easy for Virginia Tech.
Philip Montgomery gives key injury updates ahead of Georgia Tech game
The biggest name banged up right now is running back Terion Stewart. He was injured against Wake Forest and didn't return. On Tuesday, it wasn't sounding good for him to return against the Yellow Jackets, and on Wednesday, he was limited at practice, according to Montgomery.
The offensive line has been a unit that has been injured almost every week, it feels like. Johnny Garrett has been hit with multiple injuries and is in the process of trying to work his way back against Georgia Tech. Jaden Muskrat is also "getting closer'' according to Montgomery.
"I don't know how many times this year we've been able to line up with the same five guys in the same five spots," Montgomery said. "Our guys up front have been resilient and continue to keep bouncing back."
Montgomery isn't kidding. It's been a long first year in Blacksburg for offensive line coach Matt Moore since coming over from West Virginia, but they keep battling and will need to do so against the Yellow Jackets on Saturday afternoon.