Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – With fall camp underway for Virginia Tech football, let's look at the quarterback position and the competition under offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tyler Bowen.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
For the second straight year, the Hokies will enter preseason camp with a quarterback competition, with incumbent Grant Wells and newcomer Kyron Drones battling for the starting job. Both signal callers showed flashes of success during spring practice and the competition could extend deep into fall camp.
Wells started all 11 games for the Hokies in 2022 as a transfer from Marshall. He threw for more than 2,000 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for another six scores. The Charleston, West Virginia native has 35 games worth of college experience under his belt and the benefit of a full season in the Tech offense.
Drones is a Pearland, Texas native and a former four-star recruit. He spent the last two years at Baylor, appearing in five games as a redshirt freshman in 2022.
Drones completed 14 of his 23 passes for 219 yards while picking up another 49 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He has three years of eligibility remaining and his combination of size, arm strength and athleticism makes him an intriguing option.
Gallery: (8-5-2023) FB: Quarterbacks (fall camp)
NOTES
- Wells has made 34 career starts under center
- Wells has 21 completions of more than 40 yards in his career
- Wells was the team's third leading rusher in 2022
- Drones was pressed into service early in the third quarter at West Virginia last season, going 7 of 14 for 95 yards and a score and rushing twice for 24 yards, including a career-long of 17
- Drones completed a 50-yard pass in a win over Albany
- Both Wells and Drones will have a new quarterback coach this season as offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen moves over from the tight ends room
POSITION OUTLOOK
Wells or Drones will be the starter on Sept. 2, but there is plenty of promise in the quarterback room in the form of talented freshmen Dylan Wittke and William "Pop" Watson III, who tossed a touchdown pass to Tucker Holloway in the spring game.