Purdue opponent early outlook: Virginia Tech
As the 2023 football season nears closer, GoldandBlack.com will provide a mid-summer outlook of each of Purdue’s opponents. Today, it’s Virginia Tech, the first of two ACC foes on the slate for Purdue this fall.
2022 RECORD: 3-8 (1-6 ACC) *note: Virginia Tech’s final game vs. Virginia was canceled
HEAD COACH: Brent Pry (3-8 career, entering second season at VT)
KEY PLAYERS: WR Ali Jennings III, CB Mansoor Delane, S Nasir Peoples
HISTORY VS. PURDUE: The 2023 matchup is the return trip in a home-and-home series. In 2015, the Hokies came to Ross-Ade Stadium and left victorious, as Frank Beamer’s crew took down Darrell Hazell’s Boilers, 51-24. Two coaching changes later for each school, they meet again in just the second-ever meeting between Purdue and Virginia Tech.
ABOUT THE HOKIES: Since the retirement of legendary coach Frank Beamer, inconsistency has plagued the once-mighty Virginia Tech program. The Justin Fuente hire didn’t work out as hoped, and now it’s Brent Pry’s turn to bring the Hokies back toward the top of the ACC. While year one featured more downs than ups, Pry will hope that year two can signify legitimate progress in Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech welcomes several transfers on offense, including a quarterback in Kyron Drones to compete with incumbent Grant Wells. Whichever quarterback earns the starting nod will benefit from three transfer wide receivers, all of whom may start for an offense that struggled mightily in 2022. The Hokies finished outside the top 100 in every offensive category last season. Although the program would like to run the ball, it needs improvement on the line to do so effectively.
Toward the end of last season, Pry handed off defensive play-calling duties to coordinator Chris Marve. While the defense didn’t hurt the Hokies nearly as much as the offense, there’s hope that a strong secondary can lead an improved unit. With returning starters and key transfers, the Hokies should limit opponents through the air. Questions linger in the front seven, however. No returning pass rusher recorded more than two sacks in 2022, and while deep, the tackle and linebacker groups lack proven game-changers.
It’s a much different program than Purdue saw back in 2015. Failure to recruit high-level talent by the previous staff has placed the Hokies in a tough spot, but Lane Stadium remains daunting. A win in Blacksburg would go a long way toward getting Purdue to a bowl game for the third-consecutive season.
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