Virginia Tech Faces Challenges with Kyron Drones Out Against Duke

Virginia Tech‘s football team will be without quarterback Kyron Drones as they travel to face the Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Drones was absent from early pregame warmups and remained on the sidelines with a brace on his right knee, which he injured again. Head coach Brent Pry had initially labeled him as questionable for the game, but his absence is now confirmed, giving him an extra week to recover before the Commonwealth Clash season finale.

With Drones sidelined, Collin Schlee is expected to assume all quarterback responsibilities barring any injuries during the encounter with Duke. Schlee has featured in five games this season, showing his potential during significant plays against Clemson and Syracuse, games in which Virginia Tech was defeated. Over the season, Schlee recorded 279 passing yards, competing 23 of 42 pass attempts, yielding a 55% completion rate. Though not as proficient a runner as Drones, Schlee has showcased his mobility by rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown across 32 carries this year.

Brent Pry has conveyed his confidence in Schlee, who is a seasoned fifth-year senior with over thirty games at the Division I level under his belt. Schlee’s performance will be pivotal as Virginia Tech, currently with five wins, seeks to achieve bowl eligibility for the second consecutive year, facing a Duke team that boasts seven victories.

The game is set to commence at 8 p.m. ET on the ACC Network. Commentators Wes Durham, Tom Luginbill, and Dana Boyle will provide coverage of the match-up.

Meanwhile, as the regular season heads into its final weeks, Virginia Tech at 5-5 aims to secure bowl eligibility after their upcoming weekend bye. Off-field activity could also become prominent, particularly regarding player transfers. Brent Pry, in a recent episode of Tech Talk Live, hinted at «five to eight transfer spots» potentially opening due to team attrition and possible player exits.

Pry, in his third year coaching in Blacksburg, faces what many consider a lackluster season, and the Hokies aim for their upcoming games to be decisive in maintaining team stability. In the current NIL era, the financial landscape is varied across schools, and Virginia Tech’s relative size can influence its ability to retain players. Should the team fail to reach a bowl game, Pry suggested the transfer portal numbers could rise.