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Greater sense of urgency with marquee opener

It seemed like every other question posed to Virginia Tech’s representatives at ACC football media days was about the opener against the Gamecocks in Atlanta. There is an obvious tie with Shane Beamer leading South Carolina, but there were plenty of questions about quarterback LaNorris Sellers, edge rusher Dylan Stewart and wide receivers Nyck Harbor and Mazeo Bennett Jr.

Also, South Carolina is ranked 13th in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll that was released Monday.

The Hokies have opened the season against Old Dominion (twice) and Vanderbilt during Brent Pry’s tenure, so the tenor of practice has a different feel with a ranked opponent in a neutral-site venue on tap.

“You know, that may have something to do with it,� Pry said, “but I think more than anything, these guys got a little chip on their shoulder, they’re excited about how close they are, they’re excited about the summer they’ve had and they feel like they have something to prove.�

Pry and his staff know winning a contest against a nonconference Power Four opponent is paramount to turning around the program’s fortunes.

Tech is 0-5 against nonconference Power Four opponents under Pry and has lost 12 straight to teams from the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12.

The Hokies’ last win against an SEC team came in the 2016 Belk Bowl against Arkansas.

Different look all around

The Hokies spent the summer running. A lot.

A large portion of new strength and conditioning coordinator Jarrett Ferguson’s offseason plan was to prepare the players to be conditioned to play in the fourth quarter. That meant the players ran to open and end workouts, and the focus was ensuring the Hokies could finish games in the fourth quarter.

Tech lost four games in 2024 in which it either led or was tied at the two-minute timeout in the fourth quarter.

“We’re leaner, but not necessarily lighter. We just look better. Look better in our uniforms,� Pry said. “Secondly, we’re moving around better, whether it’s changing direction or straight-line running. We look like a faster group all in all. Thirdly, we’ve been able to work harder, to work a little bit longer because of the condition that we’re in, the shape we’re in, because of the type of summer we had.

“Our load when you study what we’re doing from a sports science standpoint, our loads are much heavier than what they were last year at this time. We’re able to put another rack of plates at the end of the segment that we couldn’t do before, to make sure we’re getting as many reps as we can without hurting the guys and setting us back physically.�

Rangel’s addition welcomed in QB room

Oklahoma State transfer Garret Rangel joined the roster in late May as an experienced quarterback expected to battle Pop Watson to become Kyron Drones’ backup.

Watson welcomed Rangel joining the quarterback room and said he and his fellow quarterbacks “thrive off competition here� as Tech has three quarterbacks with starting experience on the roster.

Rangel was previously recruited by offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery when Montgomery was at Tulsa, and he said talking with Montgomery and co-quarterbacks coach Brian Crist on his visit to Blacksburg allowed him to feel confident the Hokies were the best fit for him.

“I just think trying to absorb as much information as I can from both them, and including the coaches, too, Coach Crist and Coach Monty, too, I think it’s been good,� Rangel said. “I’m just really trying to dial in and just raise the level in the film room, too. I’ve been used to kind of knowing everything because I was at OSU for three years, so you’re used to everything. It’s just been a learning process and I’m really blessed.�

Ideal defensive line depth

Defensive line coach J.C. Price had plenty of work to do after the spring practices. As part of Tech assessing its roster, adding defensive linemen was a priority in the second transfer portal window.

The Hokies added defensive tackles Kody Huisman (North Dakota State) and Immanuel Hickman (Central Florida) and defensive end Elhadj Fall (Georgia Southern) after spring practices. That gives the Hokies 20 players who can either play defensive tackle, defensive end or off the edge.

“Guys who could come in and push for a starting job and compete and just get more depth. You can never have too many D-linemen,� Price said of the additions. “It’s such a long season and it’s such a hard position physically. It’s so physically demanding what we ask them to do day in and day out. I don’t think there’s a coach in the country who would ever tell you (that) you had enough D-linemen.�

All three are expected to be part of the rotation as backups. Huisman and Hickman are expected to play behind Kelvin Gilliam and Kemari Copeland at the two defensive tackle sports, and Fall is projected to play behind James Djonkam at defensive end.

The most impressive newcomer

Freshmen weren’t available to speak during the team’s media day last week, but one kept being brought up by coaches and players during the press conference and breakout session.

Wide receiver Shamarius Peterkin was nearly the consensus pick for most impressive newcomer amongst transfers and freshmen. The freshman from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, committed to Virginia Tech as a two-sport athlete, and he has roster spots on both the football and men’s basketball teams.

“He's been pretty impressive up to this point. He got here in the summer, had a lot to learn, needed to get in the weight room,� offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery said of Peterkin, “but I will tell you out on the practice field when given opportunities, he’s showed up and he's answered the call. And so we'll see how he continues to develop.

"Still a young guy, but I've been really pleased with what we've gotten out of with him so far, and I like his maturity. I think he's got a natural understanding of how to play the receiver position, understanding leverage, how to get in and out of breaks, doing all of those things. Been very impressed with that side.�