Last season, Brent Pry and the Virginia Tech football team saw how valuable the backup quarterback position is. Starter Kyron Drones battled multiple injuries, and in the end, it cost him four of the final five games of the season, and in the one game he played in against Clemson, he was replaced in the second half by former backup Collin Schlee, a UCLA transfer.
Schlee was injured against Duke in the next-to-last regular season game on the road, which handed the keys to Pop Watson for the final game of the season against Virignia, which the Hokies needed to win to become bowl-eligible. He led them to a win and then split time with Schlee in the Duke's Mayo Bowl against Minnesota.
Freshman Davi Belfort left in the Transfer Portal in the spring after Drones and Watson returned for another season in Blacksburg, and that left Pry and first-year offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery searching for another QB in the portal. They got a commitment from a Big 12 signal caller, Garret Rangel from Oklahoma State, and now, the battle for the QB2 spot is heating up in camp.
Brent Pry reveals a leader in the QB2 battle in Virginia Tech's camp
We are just 10 days away from the Hokies' season opener against South Carolina in Atlanta, and Drones is fully healthy and ready for a big season, Virginia Tech fans hope. However, who will be the QB2 on the depth chart remains a battle, and Pry gave a hint as to who the leader in the clubhouse is to replace Drones if something happens.
"First of all, Pop has improved,'' said Pry. "He's making better decisions. He's still making Pop-type plays, you know, in a positive way. He's made some nice plays running the ball. He's cut down on his mistakes. We brought a lot at him, because that was his issue a little bit last year. When the pressure was coming, it wasn't great. So he's improved in that area.
"But I think in every practice, Garrett does something with his arm talent that you go, 'man, really nice throw.' He's still coming in the offense. He was clearly behind and didn't have the spring snaps to benefit from, but I think, right now, Pop is slightly ahead of him, but that thing's going to continue to be a competition each and every week."
A four-star recruit out of high school, Rangel threw for 1,075 yards in three seasons with the Cowboys and eight touchdowns, along with seven interceptions. It's clear that he has an arm that impresses the coaching staff, but the Hokies know what they have in Watson, and it wouldn't be surprising if he's named the QB2 by next week. But Rangel is certainly making a push for that spot.