Brent Pry (back row in middle) took four players to this past week’s ACC media days.
Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry says this year’s football team has a lot to prove, especially after falling after so much optimism.
His comments came at this past week’s ACC Media Days.
Pry really likes this year’s group of players.
“I like our quarterback. I like our guys. I like the direction we’re going. This team right now is the closest to the vision I have for Virginia Tech football, for what I want us to be and who I want us to be. We’re closer than we’ve ever been,” he said.
He is also encouraged by the leadership being seen from both players and two new coordinators. “We made some upticks in some really important areas in our program. We needed to have the type of off-season that we’re having.”
Pry said Virginia Tech’s roster is deeper. “I’m also excited and encouraged by the type of off-season we’ve had. When we reflected on the 2024 year, it was evident to me that we needed to be a more mentally and physically tough team.”
Pry was joined at media days by players, Kelvin Gilliam Jr., Jaden Keller, Kyron Drones and Donavon Greene.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the team that we have the opportunity to be. Excited about the opener,” Pry said.
Virginia Tech opens August 31 against South Carolina.
“We’ve got a lot to prove in Blacksburg, and we’ve still got this preseason camp to attack and make sure we make the most of it,” Pry said.
During the off season, Pry added Phil Montgomery as the offensive coordinator and Sam Siefkes as the defensive coordinator.
Montgomery’s impressive resume spans over two decades in the collegiate ranks, including head coaching experience at the University of Tulsa (2015-2022) and offensive coordinator stints at Auburn, Baylor and Houston. Known for his innovative offensive schemes, Montgomery has consistently developed high-powered offenses and mentored elite quarterbacks, including Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, Bryce Petty and Case Keenum. He most recently served as the co-offensive coordinator for the Birmingham Stallions, where he helped lead the team to a 2024 UFL Championship.
Siefkes, a highly regarded defensive mind with coaching experience at numerous levels of football, brings an impressive resume including successful stints in the NFL, FBS, FCS, and Division III.
Siefkes arrives in Blacksburg after serving two seasons as linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals, where he helped mentor linebacker Kyzir White, who ranked 15th in the NFL in tackles with 137 in 2024. He also worked alongside safety Budda Baker, who ranked second in the NFL with 164 tackles and earned Pro Bowl honors. Under Siefkes’ guidance, the Cardinals finished 2024 ranked among the NFL’s top defenses in several categories
“Yeah, first of all, I’m excited about the coordinator hire we’ve made. Coach Siefkes is young, but he has some really good experiences. At the college level, tremendous success at Wofford, a couple of different ways, and then in the NFL, not just that he was in the league, but the defensive minds that he spent time with while coaching there. Then the additions from the transfer — we needed a shot in the arm in our secondary with some depth, some safety-type bodies, some guys that can track the ball and tackle. We helped ourselves there.
The opener against South Carolina adds even more intrigue as former Tech coach Frank Beamer’s son is Shane, who coached in Blacksburg and grew up in the shadows of the Hokies story.
“It’s challenging. South Carolina is a hell of a football team. They’ve recruited well. They’ve got a ton of momentum. They’ve got a dynamic edge guy. They’ve got an ultra talented quarterback. We’ve got our hands full. But we’re up for the challenge, and we’re working every day to be the best team that we can be to go down there and play a good brand of football,” Pry said.
The coach called South Carolina arguably a top 10 group and admits it will be a dogfight.
