Photos courtesy of VT Athletics
Marty Gordon
Hokies fans were treated to an interesting Spring football game this past Saturday with several players taking advantage of the moment.
One of those was former Radford High School running back P.J. Prioleau, who led the Maroon team in rushing with 62 yards.
His longest of 31-yards, which was a touchdown, gave us glimpses of what all Bobcat fans had learned to expect during his time in the black and gold.
Prioleau also scored a second touchdown on a 22-yard receiving touchdown connection from Kyron Drones.
The Maroon squad clinched a victory in a closely contested matchup, 21-14 over the Orange unit in front of a large Spring audience.
At halftime, Coach Brent Pry honored the 5-11, 180 Prioleau with the “Frank Beamer Ultimate Teammate Award” for his actions over the spring.
Prioleau played multiple positions at Radford High School, where he was named to the 2018 Three Rivers District First Team and was the 2018 Region 2C Offensive Player of the Year … the same season he was also named to the Class 2 First Team All-State team as running back.
He tore his ACL his junior year of high school and missed the entire season.
One of his most prominent years at Radford was as a sophomore when he rushed for 1,725 yards on 231 carries with 20 touchdowns.
Prioleau has some familiarity in the Hokie coaching staff as his father Pierson is an assistant in Blacksburg. The elder Prioleau had coached his son for several years as an assistant at Radford and has plenty of experience for him to learn from. Pierson was a three-year starter for at Tech before being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1999 NFL Draft.
For the past two years, the former Bobcat has seen his time only on special teams but that could all be changing. Two years ago, he blocked a punt 15 yards into Tech’s end zone of his collegiate debut. Thus, he became the first Tech player to block a punt since 2018.
Last year, he played in 12 games on special teams.
Prioleau’s performance could push him up the depth chart with the possibility we might see him more in the spring on the offensive ball.
Pry has called the spring session Phase Two of the much bigger plan in getting his team prepared. After Saturday’s game, he was optimistic but a little guarded in his own evaluation.
“Every time I get excited, there’s been caution, kind of creeping in. You realize we’ve got all summer and a ton of things we have to get done. We’ve had all camp, a lot of the things that we need to get done. I love that we know more about our team, more about more guys, what we’re gonna get. That proved true this spring. The guys that finished strong, they had good springs. It’s just getting this next group to be ready to play. We’re making strides there,” he said.
On the Maroon side of the ball, Tight end Ja’Ricous Hairston also got his name up on the board, giving the Maroon team their third touchdown to dominate the Orange team. Drones finished the game with a total of 122 yards, claiming two touchdowns with an impressive 66-yard connection with running back Malachi Thomas. Quarterback Dylan Wittke also made an appearance, with a significant performance completing five of eight passes for 44 yards.
On the Orange team, Quarterbacks William ‘Pop’ Watson III and Ben Locklear split the time with Watson completing 13 of 21 passes for a substantial 130 total yards, including a three-yard rushing touchdown while Locklear went seven of 11 for 90 yards, including a 38-yard connection with wide receiver Chance Fitzgerald.
Running back Jeremiah Coney displayed his athletic prowess, leading the team with 81 rushing yards which included a 33-yard sprint to keep the Orange squad in the game. Fellow running back Tralon Mitchell put up a second touchdown with a two-yard rush.
On the defensive front, the Maroon team was anchored by defensive lineman James Jennette, tallying four solo tackles, three tackles for loss totaling eight yards, and securing a sack for a five-yard loss. Meanwhile, cornerback Joshua Clarke contributed with four solo tackles and an interception, returning it for 15 yards. He was joined by teammate defensive lineman Kemari Copeland, who also grabbed an interception, returning it for 13 yards. Veteran defensive lineman Keyshawn Burgos rounded out the defensive effort with an impressive three sacks against Watson for a total loss of 24 yards, in addition to four solo tackles and a pass breakup.
Pry was appreciative of what he saw out of Burgos on Saturday.
“He played like he was mad today. I have to get him mad at me all the time, I guess. He’s one of the more improved guys on the team,” Pry said. “We only gave out two awards, one offense and one defense in that department today. But he was in that conversation. He’s got a great motor, and I think he’s been more focused this spring. He’s complained less, he just works, he just puts his nose down. He’s coachable more so than he’s ever been, it’s paying off.”
As for the Orange Team defense, star Stephon Hicks recorded two sacks, resulting in a loss of nine yards, along with three solo tackles. Linebacker Darius Taylor added another sack for a five-yard loss, while Deric Dandy secured a sack as well, resulting in an eight-yard loss. Cornerback Josh Gholston and receiver Ali Jennings contributed with fumble recoveries.
One of the early surprises was the play of freshman Quentin Reddish. Defensive Coordinator Chris Marve is pleased in what he sees is Reddish’s growth.
“I think he’ll be a contributor, man, he doesn’t panic. Long, can run, has good length, is not afraid of contact. He’s not afraid of being challenged by an older receiver, tight end or running back and he’s not afraid to throw it around. He’s got a lot of development to do, between the ears, but also with his body. But he’s got some gifts. He is hungry, and we are excited he’s a Hokie,” Marve said.