New head coach James Franklin is about to kick off his Virginia Tech era in less than one week when the VMI Keydets invade Lane Stadium, but for us, the real story everyone’s buzzing about is the re-debut of defensive coordinator Brent Pry. Pry, who coached the Hokies for the past four seasons before an 0-3 start last season led to his firing, is back in Blacksburg, and he’s already made a huge impact by retaining some of the team’s top defensive players, including safety Quentin Reddish.
The Cornerbacks Are Deep With All-ACC Talent
Let’s be real, the cornerback group is deep, and the top dog, the absolute star of the show, is Jaquez White. This dude is legit, I’m talking All-ACC potential for 2026. The Hokies had to fight tooth and nail with the SEC just to land him. Everyone held their breath in the spring game when White got hurt, but thank goodness it wasn’t a long-term issue; he’s full steam ahead for this year. White and Joshua Clarke are looking like the top outside corners, which is huge for stability. Don’t sleep on Isaiah Brown-Murray and Kenny Woseley Jr. either; they’re gonna be battling for that nickel spot. And seriously, keep an eye on freshman Amauri Polydor out of Baltimore. He had a terrific spring and could be one of those guys who plays right away without a redshirt. This unit’s got a fantastic mix of returning talent and new blood; they’re seriously excited about Clarke’s future.
Reddish and Flowers Lead a Stacked Safety Room
Moving over to the backfield’s last line of defense, the safeties are stacked, too. Quentin Reddish and Tyson Flowers are expected to start, and guess what? Reddish is another one with potential All-ACC written all over him for this season. Remember that name, because he’s going to be making plays. But wait, there’s more: Sophomore Sheldon Robinson has big-time potential and is absolutely going to see a ton of playing time, so keep your eyes glued to him. And hey, Sherrod Covil Jr. even stepped up at linebacker because of injuries, showing that versatility we love to see. This whole secondary, both the corners and safeties, has a real shot to be a major strength for Virginia Tech in 2026. A secondary is only as good as its pass rush, right? Well, with Kemari Copeland leading the charge on the inside, the pass rush should be way better this season. That means these guys in the back are gonna eat.
So, VMI is coming to town for the season opener, and it’s not just another game. This is the first real look at what James Franklin’s era means, and more importantly, it’s a huge test for Brent Pry’s re-debut and this secondary. Can they live up to the hype? Can they show the league that this unit is a true strength from Day 1? We’re about to find out, and I, for one, can’t wait to see this defense in action!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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