Everything From Virginia Tech HC Brent Pry At Tuesday's Press Conference

Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry held his weekly press conference today; here's what he had to say to the media.

Opening statement:

"Sorry, we're running a little late. Was in a meeting. Kind of have an opening statement here. I want to read a little bit about a couple things going on. I'd like to start by congratulating our men's soccer team, 2-0 start. Pretty impressive win over No. 3 ranked Ohio State. And then the women's team off to a 3-1 start and in the national polls. So, congratulations to the start to their year. We certainly want that for our own team. But I want to take a moment to send our prayers, down to [South Carolina defensive line coach Tavian Robertson], was in a pretty bad accident. I messaged with [South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer] a few days ago. Could have cost him his life. So, they're very thankful right now. He's in recovery. We wish him our best and certainly to his family.

"Our team is in a good place right now. We had a great camp that was catapulted from a really good offseason with [strength and conditioning coach Jarrett Ferguson and his staff and our coaches. They've put the work in and like every camp when it comes to the end, you're just looking forward to playing somebody else. We've had a lot of situational football. We've had a lot of ones versus ones. We've had a lot of ones versus twos and we've had a lot of ones versus look squad. So, it's time for us to play somebody else. Now, we certainly have a huge challenge. This South Carolina bunch, I've coached against a bunch of SEC teams in my time, and they they appear to be one of the more talented ones. I would liken them to to some of the LSU teams I've seen and some others. They they're explosive, they're fast, they got good size. I think it's a very talented SEC team, but the opportunity to be on national television, the opportunity to play in an NFL stadium at a prime time slot, the only game on. Again, I've said it before, that's why guys come to Virginia Tech. So excited about that. Tremendous respect for Shane Beamer and the job he's done. and he's put together a terrific staff and recruited very well and he has his team positioned to be top-10. So I'm thankful to the Aflac Kickoff folks, Gary Stoken and that group for inviting us, giving us the opportunity to play in this game and to play the caliber of opponent in South Carolina. Also excited about Hokie Divine Deablo, who's currently with the Falcons. He's our honorary captain for the game, which I think is very cool and I look forward to seeing him. And then lastly to have [former Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer and his wife Cheryl Oakley] and be honored prior to the game and I just think that's absolutely right and we all know what he did here in Blacksburg and and at Virginia Tech and it's pretty cool for him and his wife and for Shane and and for Virginia Tech. So I'm excited about the opportunity for us for our team and I'll take from some questions from there."

On Caleb Woodson (situation, status for opener):

"Yeah, obviously, there's been a lot of discussions over the last few days regarding this matter, very serious matter, and there's certainly internal program consequences at play, measures at play. And then the university's policy, the athletic department policies, we're committed to seeing that out. And as far as his play this weekend, that's yet to be determined."

Q: When you look at him in being a captain in the fact that he's supposed to set the example for the rest of the team, does how do you address not only him, but the rest of the team saying, 'You know, hey, this is a matter that we need to be better at?'

"Yeah, we removed his captain status with the opportunity to earn it back."

On what makes Pry say that VT Football has had a really good camp on what they did over the last couple weeks to make him feel that way:

"Yeah, I think that's a good question. There's two things that stick out to me. It's the development of some key guys, that you weren't sure [about], are they going to be able to help us or not? We had some guys uptick that I feel better about playing in this first game. And then secondly, you want your schemes, each phase to continue to come together and be closer to game ready. And I think we took steps that way. So those are the two biggest areas where I think we helped ourselves over the last couple weeks."

Q (paraphrased): Any guys specifically? Any younger guys or transfers?

"Yeah, it's a combination of guys. It's some transfer guys that were still figuring it out a little bit. It's some guys that were nicked up that didn't have enough reps for you to feel good about the camp. And there's some some freshman that have come on and, it's easy to coach when guys just make plays practice after practice. They keep showing up. It's like you don't have to hit us on the head. You're a good player. You got a chance to go help us. So, we've had some of that happen."

On Tomas Rimac at left guard, Montavious Cunningham at right tackle:

"Yeah, we're still working through, the best five and where they play. Tomas has a ton of snaps at guard and that was a factor in things. I like what he's done at tackle, but I also like what Montavious has done out there. He's got a ton of snaps at tackle. So, we got flexibility in that front five. Where we have to continue to to build depth is after Muskrat and after Brody Meadows, we got a bunch of younger guys that we need to have come on and they're getting better. They're not where they need to be quite yet."

On Takye Heath starting at slot receiver:

"Yeah, I'm very proud of Takye right now. He's a guy that at times, quite honestly, wasn't sure he was gonna make it. He felt that way. I felt that way, but we've hung in there with one another and [wide receivers coach Fontel Mines and assistant coach Cam Phillips] have done a great job with him. He's had his absolute best cycle since we've been here. He's always been talented. He just couldn't put it together one phase after another, or he'd have a couple of good weeks and then have a setback physically, emotionally, academically, whatever it may be, injury and he put together a really nice camp and he's earned the right to uh to be listed as a starter there."

Q: When we talked to Fontel on Friday, he said, you know, there's nobody else with a body type like him on the roster. [Is] there stuff that he does that just kind of is not repeatable in that room or something that's tough to duplicate.

"Yeah, he's one of those quick fast guys. Good ball skills. He's elusive. He's confident. As a defensive play caller, you try and match somebody up on that slot that could play him man-to-man and place him underneath coverage in that area, it's hard to do with him. He's very shifty. He's got quick feet. He's got a nice way about being elusive and and running his routes. He's still not very big. I worry about that sometimes. He's not a big guy. He's put some weight on. He's gotten stronger, but he needs another cycle of investing in this thing. Excited about the year he can have for us."

On development of Michael Short and Antwone Santiago:

"Yeah, thanks for asking because let me tell you, I'm pleased with the depth at that position. It was a big area of concern going into the transfer portal. You had Caleb, you had [Jaden Keller], and to go out and and first of all, take an outside backer in Kaleb Spencer, who really had played a lot of safety in his career, played outside backer for us, move him in, have him learn that to provide depth as well. And then we were hoping to go out there and get a inside linebacker to complement him. So, we're recruiting Santiago, we're recruiting Michael Short, and we just stayed hard on both of them in hopes we'd get one and we got both. And, uh, it's a credit to [associate linebackers coach Xavier Adibi and defensive coordinator Siefkes], relentless recruitment, and, those guys have come in and gotten better each and every mini camp, which is what they needed to do. They weren't ready when they got here, but they're both talented in their own way. I think those two coupled with Kaleb Spencer, I feel good about our depth there."

On Caleb Brown being a security blanket:

"Yeah, I think again you look at the transfers we've brought in, they don't have experience here, but a bunch of them have a lot of snaps at other places. Ben Bell, Tomas, Caleb Brown, [Isaiah Brown-Murray]. And experience, there's no substitute for it. So, [I] feel good about what he's doing right now. It's a coin flip with him and Dante [Lovett]. I see them probably playing about equal time, but they both came on down the stretch. Caleb was pretty raw. Took a little bit to start showing up and doing things the right way out there on the field, and then Dante started slow in camp and has really come on. He's made some really nice takeaways over the last couple mini camps. So, I feel good about where those guys are and obviously, they get to go out and do it on a big stage against some really good folks."

On Terion Stewart and work since injury:

"Yeah, we've got a little bit of traction. I think this week will be really important for him. I don't want to rush him out there if he's not ready. He's had what I would say is an average camp. And I wish we felt a little better about it, but if he could amp it up and and have a great week, then we could roll him out there. He's certainly talented. I'm excited about what he brings to our program. Just [the question of] is he ready for us to go win with him right now?"

On question marks surrounding third running back and what Pry is looking for out of the group:

"Yeah, they all just bring a little something different. I think right now, [Marcellous] Hawkins and Terion are probably separated a little bit from the others, but then it's what P.J. [Prioleau] brings in the perimeter and [Jeremiah] Coney's a model consistency and can do it all at a pretty decent level. Tyler Mason at times looks like the best one and then there'll be a play where you go, "Oh, no". So, it's a good group. I'm excited about all of them. I think [Braydon] Bennett's going to bring some value on special teams and he's had some nice runs in camp. So, you know, I doubt that we have the opportunity to play them all, but you'll see at least three, if not four of those guys in the ball game."

On Thomas Williams:

"T-Will is, he's just gotten better all the time. You know, if you remember his first spring, he had a shoulder issue and couldn't practice, couldn't do anything all the way till about mid-summer. So, not only had he not played much DB in high school, he's injured the first part of his experience here. And so, it's taken some time, but he's one of our best workers. He's a guy [that] if he gets beat on a deep ball, he bounces up, sprints right back, lines up for the next play. And that kind of mindset, he's just gotten better. He had a really good camp, was able to stay healthy, and certainly a guy that we're going to count on and lean on heavily."

On four true freshmen (Shamarius "Snook" Peterkin, Christian Evans, Knahlij Harrell, Jordan "Jojo" Crim) making the depth chart and what they've done:

"Yeah, I think Snook and all those guys are, we feel like those four guys, if the opportunity presents itself or the need presents itself, we're ready to play those guys. Snook is one of those guys that's made a play every practice. He's made a mistake or two every practice. He's a true freshman that was a multi-sport guy. He's thin right now, but he's talented, eager. Christian Evans, guy that's gotten better each mini camp. After mini camp one or two, I would have said he's a redshirt guy. But these last couple mini camps, he's pushing a couple of those guys that are in front of him. I think, Knahlij Harrell has been like a veteran since he got here. He just practices, meets, approaches everything like he's a a fourth-year player. He's got a lot of maturity. And then Jojo Crim is a guy that I love his traits, his length. He can run. He's made plays just about every practice. I think you're going to continue to see him and Snook just get better and better each week. They were both fairly raw, inexperienced, and they grow in leaps and bounds with each mini camp."

On South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers:

"First of all, I think the hype surrounding LaNorris is accurate. You watch the Clemson game, you watch the Missouri game. I mean, this guy just whether he's throwing it and certainly doing it with his legs. He's very hard to tackle. He's got great field presence. He's a great competitor and he's got tremendous size. He's an impressive athlete and I remember when he was coming out, I believe he was committed somewhere else and flipped to South Carolina and everybody was kind of curious about what type of player, what type of quarterback he was going to be, but they've done a great job with him. He's a pretty special guy. Obviously we have to have a plan for him, but I think the whole, they've got a couple of tackles that are returning, which that's when you got both your tackles back, you feel pretty good about that. They went out and they got seven or eight transfers on offense in their two-deep. They're still big in their first group and second group. They got size and experience. When you have a two-deep at your offensive line like that, and then they got their running back [Rahsul Faison] cleared, which I think they had a couple other pretty good ones. This guy's got pretty dynamic film. And then they got [Nyck Harbor] on the outside who was a national recruit. They've got players everywhere. And they've helped themselves with some good transfers. So, I would think their talent level is one of the best in that league defensively. Everybody talks about [edge Dylan Stewart] and rightfully so. You got to have a plan for him. But on the other side, that guy's a pretty pretty good player, too. You got to worry about him. So, I think they got to their safety, that guy is one of the best I've seen since I've been at Tech on film. This is going to be one of the better teams we've seen, period. So, I can't say enough about what we're up against with this group. It's a quality group."

On finding ways to get players out on the field at safety, sub linebacker and nickel:

"Yeah, I think that's one thing that Sam [Siefkes]' done a nice job with is, packaging things and I mean, we're much who we were. We're your Virginia Tech, 4-3 4-2-nickel, you got some Minnesota Vikings to us, but we've got some packages that make sense for our personnel, which I think that's one of the big things Sam's brought to us and to be able to utilize, whether it's a couple extra front guys we have, whether it's the safety packages you're talking about, the nickel play. I've watched that mature over the course of preseason camp and I think it can be an asset for us. We have to roll in and out of things the right way and have to keep guys healthy, but I like where we're at with it."

Q: You have often mentioned this preseason situational football. Are there some specific situations where you feel much more buttoned up as a team than you have previously?

"We've doubled down on red zone. We've doubled down on two minute before the half and before the game. And we've doubled down on clock management, clock timeout management. We've had a lot of situations throughout spring, throughout camp, a lot of discussions. When you think about how important red zone is and you think about how important two minute is, so to spend more time, invest more time there, create more situations, more learning opportunities for our staff and our players, it made too much sense. So, I do feel we're in a better place that way."

On how much input he had on the list of football investments for the Board of Visitors presentation and what he would prioritize:

"I don't know that I'm going to get into all that. Very appreciative with the board of visitors. We work like heck to be competitive, but the opportunity to double down on football and the investment there is exciting to me and energizing to a lot of folks around this football program. So, I'm pleased with what I'm hearing. That's up the totem pole from me, but obviously, I'm in full support."

Q: Have you had conversations with individual members of the board?

"Sure. There's guys and and ladies on the board that I would consider associates or friends."