Tag: Hokies

Oct 11, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer reacts to a play against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Shane Beamer: South Carolina is his ‘dream job,’ not Virginia Tech

Posted on | by Field Level Media

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer told his team on Sunday morning that there is no truth to a report that he’s a candidate for the vacant job at Virginia Tech, his alma mater and where his father, Frank Beamer, is a coaching legend.

“I have no idea where that story came from,” Beamer told media later Sunday about a CBS Sports report on Saturday night that multiple members of Virginia Tech’s coaching search committee are pushing for his return.

“I have conveyed publicly many times how much I want to be here,” Beamer said at his regular Sunday teleconference. “This is my dream job. I said that when I came here, nothing has changed. I am pissed off at the way we are performing right now, and it’s not acceptable. I came here to win a championship, and right now we’re not getting it done, and my focus right now is on getting it fixed. … We’re in a storm right now that that I’m going to get us out of.”

The Gamecocks fell to 3-4 overall, 1-4 in the Southeastern Conference, with the 26-7 home loss on Saturday to No. 14 Oklahoma. The CBS Sports report said Beamer’s exit was more legitimate than mere speculation based on sources at Virginia Tech, which fired Brent Pry on Sept. 14.

Beamer said he told his team that the article proposed that he was looking for a “parachute” to leave South Carolina and viewed Virginia Tech as a “soft landing spot.”

“When you’re 3-4, there’s all kinds of noise and chatter and speculation out there about all kinds of things,” Beamer said at his teleconference. “I wanted to make sure our players understood that I’m not focused on anything but getting this right. And that I’m gonna get it right.”

Beamer, 48, is 32-26 (.552) at South Carolina, 1-2 in bowl games since getting his first head coaching position in 2021. His team was ranked No. 13 in the AP preseason poll and No. 10 during this season — the highest the program has been in his four-plus seasons.

The Gamecocks bounced back from a 5-7 campaign in 2023 with a 9-4 mark last season. He was rewarded in January with new contract through the end of 2030 that pays him $8.15 million this season with $100,000 annual raises, according to an ESPN report. He was due to make about $6.6 million in 2025 under a previous extension that he signed in 2023, per ESPN.

If Beamer were to leave South Carolina in the first year, the buyout is $5 million, decreasing by $1 million each year of the deal, per the report.

Beamer played at Virginia Tech in 1995-99 and was an assistant head coach under his father in 2011-15. Frank Beamer coached in Blacksburg, Va., from 1987-2015, going 238-121-2 (.662) and 11-12 in bowl games.

Frank Beamer, the all-time winningest coach after 29 seasons at his alma mater, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) attempts to throw the ball during the first half of the game against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Terion Stewart rushes for 174 yards, Virginia Tech beats NC State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kyron Drones threw two touchdown passes and Terion Stewart rushed for 174 yards as Virginia Tech upended North Carolina State 23-21 on Saturday night at Raleigh, N.C.

John Love kicked a 49-yard field goal with 6:31 remaining for the go-ahead points.

The Hokies (2-3, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) have won two in a row since Brent Pry was fired and Philip Montgomery was installed as the interim coach.

Drones was 20-for-34 for 177 yards. Marcellous Hawkins and Cameron Seldon caught the touchdown passes.

CJ Bailey threw two touchdown passes, completing 26 of 34 throws for 240 yards for the Wolfpack (3-2, 1-2).

Love’s go-ahead boot came on a redo after he initially drilled a field goal only to have that wiped out by a delay-of-game penalty that pushed his next attempt back 5 yards.

After Virginia Tech made a defensive stop, the Hokies regained possession with 4:16 to play with a chance to clinch the outcome. Facing fourth-and-1 from their own 40-yard line, they opted to punt, with the Wolfpack taking over at the 18-yard line with 1:36 to play.

NC State was halted on an incomplete fourth-and-1 pass from its own 44.

Love kicked three field goals for the Hokies, who were in their first true road game of the season.

Stewart ran 85 yards to set up Drones’ 4-yard toss to Seldon on the next play with 20 seconds left in the third quarter.

NC State retook the lead on the first possession of the second half on Bailey’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Jackson.

Virginia Tech led 13-7 at halftime, holding a 230-121 advantage in total offense.

Bailey threw 4 yards to tight end Dante Daniels to put NC State up 7-3 late in the first quarter, completing a 12-play, 75-yard drive.

Drones beat a third-down blitz, throwing to Hawkins for an 11-yard touchdown to cap a 10-play drive that regained the lead for Virginia Tech.

The Hokies used 10 plays before Love’s second field goal of the half, a 32-yarder for a 13-7 lead

NC State has trailed at halftime in four consecutive games.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2025; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) throws a pass as Virginia Tech Hokies offensive lineman Aidan Lynch (76) blacks during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech pounds Wofford in first game since firing coach

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Kyron Drones threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more and Virginia Tech drubbed visiting Wofford 38-6 on Saturday at Blacksburg, Va., in its first game since firing head coach Brent Pry.

Ayden Greene and Devin Alves each caught a touchdown. Marcellous Hawkins led Virginia Tech on the ground with 79 yards on 13 carries.

Interim coach Philip Montgomery directed the Hokies (1-3) against the Terriers (0-4), a Football Championship Subdivision team.

Sam Spence booted a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 42-yarder in the fourth for Wofford. Quarterback Jayden Walker completed 16 of 27 passes for 142 yards with an interception, while the Terriers were limited to eight first downs and minus-1 rushing yards.

Drones completed 27 of 32 passes for 307 yards. P.J. Prioleau’s 65 yards on seven receptions made him the top receiver for the Hokies, who racked up 461 yards of total offense and converted six of 11 third-down situations.

It ended a week of upheaval for Virginia Tech, with Pry fired last Sunday following losses at then-No. 13 South Carolina and at home against Vanderbilt and Old Dominion to open the season. Montgomery is a former head coach at Tulsa.

Virginia Tech led 21-3 at halftime.

The game’s first points came on Braydon Bennett’s 3-yard run.

The Hokies tacked on two more touchdowns in a 5 1/2-minute span in the second quarter. Alves caught a 19-yard scoring pass and Greene reaching the end zone on an 18-yard reception, building the hosts’ lead to 21-0. Those back-to-back drives covered 80 and 69 yards, respectively.

Virginia Tech drove 62 yards for John Love’s 20-yard field goal to begin the second half. Drones ran it in from 1 yard out with 1:08 remaining in the third and from 2 yards out early in the fourth.

Virginia Tech has won both meetings against Wofford.

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2025; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Old Dominion Monarchs quarterback Colton Joseph (1) throws a pass during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Old Dominion routs Virginia Tech to drop Hokies to 0-3

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Colton Joseph threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score as Old Dominion overwhelmed Virginia Tech 45-26 Saturday night in Blacksburg, Va.

Trequan Jones carried 13 times for 101 yards and a touchdown for the Monarchs (2-1) of the Sun Belt Conference, who upset the Hokies (0-3) for the third time in the last six meetings.

It felt like an unfortunate full-circle moment for Va. Tech head coach Brent Pry after his tenure began in 2022 with a 20-17 loss at Old Dominion.

As Pry fell to 16-24 at Virginia Tech, his team committed three turnovers and was penalized 12 times for 114 yards. The last time the Hokies started a season 0-3 was 1987.

The Monarchs’ domination was thorough. They won the yardage battle 527-433, averaging 8.5 yards per play and jumping out to a 28-0 halftime.

Joseph completed 16 of 22 passes without an interception, guiding an efficient Old Dominion offense which produced touchdowns on each of its six opportunities in the red zone.

The Monarchs’ defense made it a long night for Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones, who completed 26 of 39 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns, doing most of his damage after the outcome was decided.

Operating behind a patchwork offensive line, Drones was sacked four times and accounted for all of the Virginia Tech turnovers with an interception and two fumbles.

Old Dominion took the lead on its third possession, needing just five plays to march 93 yards. Joseph triggered the drive with a 38-yard completion to Ja’Cory Thomas and finished it with a 6-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0.

The next three times the Monarchs got the ball, they cashed in with touchdowns, including a 10-yard burst up the middle by Maurki James which capped a 97-yard drive and made it 14-0.

An 11-yard touchdown carry by Jones culminated an 88-yard drive after Old Dominion took possession on an interception by Jerome Carter.

Two 15-yard penalties against the Hokies fueled the Monarchs’ next march which was capped by a 13-yard pass from Joseph to Tre Brown in the final minute of the first half which swelled Old Dominion’s lead to 28-0.

Early in the second half, Old Dominion scored on its fifth straight possession as Riley Callaghan booted a career-long 50-yard field goal to make it 31-0.

Donavon Greene made two touchdown catches in the final 20 minutes for Virginia Tech, finishing with 77 yards on five catches.

– Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) runs on the sideline against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

South Carolina leans on defense, special teams to down Virginia Tech in opener

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After sputtering for much of the game, No. 13 South Carolina scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull away with a 24-11 win over Virginia Tech in the second Aflac Kickoff Game of the weekend in Atlanta.

With the Gamecocks (1-0) clinging to a 10-8 lead early in the fourth quarter, Vicari Swain returned a punt 80 yards for USC’s first punt-return touchdown since 2013.

After the Hokies (0-1) responded with a field goal, a 64-yard touchdown pass from LaNorris Sellers to Nyck Harbor put the game out of reach for Va. Tech.

Sellers completed 12 of 19 passes for 209 yards with a passing and rushing touchdown in the first game of his second season as a starter.

Va. Tech starting quarterback Kyron Drones was an inefficient 15-of-35 (43 percent) for 221 yards with a pair of interceptions. He relied heavily on the two-headed monster of Donavon Greene (94 yards) and Ayden Greene (71 yards), who combined for 75 percent of the team’s receiving yards.

The Hokies outgained USC 336-327, but they were also held without a touchdown for the first time since a 34-3 loss at Louisville in 2023.

The Gamecocks got off to a roaring start to their season opener, marching down the field on a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Sellers was 3-for-3 for 54 yards, and reached the end zone on a 15-yard run to cap off the drive.

From there, USC’s offense sputtered out. The Gamecocks managed just three points on their ensuing seven possessions as the Hokies’ defense strung together stops to give the offense a chance to get back into the game.

Va. Tech gradually chipped into the deficit with a safety on a sack of Sellers and a pair of field goals from John Love, including a 56-yarder as time expired in the first half to make it 10-8.

But a host of mistakes prevented the Hokies from ever coming all the way back to take the lead.

Drones threw a first-quarter interception into the end zone to keep the Hokies from scoring on their first red-zone trip. They allowed USC to pick up 30 yards on a second-and-33 carry that set up a second-quarter field goal, and dealt with untimely drops and penalties which also helped the Gamecocks’ cause.

Sellers, who finished the 2024 season with 674 rushing yards, managed just 25 rushing yards on 13 carries and was sacked four times. However, he did have a pair of clutch fourth-quarter scrambles, converting on third-and-13 and fourth-and-5 on the final drive to run out the clock.

Love, who entered Saturday having made 39 of 44 field goals in his career, added a 39-yarder in the fourth quarter to finish the season opener 3-for-3.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Caleb Woodson (20) celebrates after a play during the second quarter against the Virginia Cavaliers at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech LB Caleb Woodson arrested on DWI charge

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Virginia Tech junior linebacker Caleb Woodson is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 9 after his arrest on a charge of misdemeanor driving while intoxicated.

Woodson, 21, was arrested Saturday in that incident.

He also has a Sept. 16 court date for a reckless driving citation in which he reportedly was going 96 mph in a 70-mph zone on July 30.

“We are aware of an incident involving Caleb Woodson,” Virginia Tech said in a statement on Tuesday morning. “We take this matter seriously and will handle it according to athletic department policy and university policy. As this is a legal matter, we will have no further comment until the process is complete.”

Hokies head coach Brent Pry told reporters on Tuesday that there has yet to be a determination about the status of Woodson, a captain, for the team’s season opener against No. 13 South Carolina on Sunday in Atlanta.

“We removed his captain status with the opportunity to earn it back,” Pry said.

Woodson recorded 72 tackles, two sacks and an interception in 13 games (11 starts) last season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 17, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) throws a touchdown during the second quarter against the Boston College Eagles at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Bhayshul Tuten sets Virginia Tech rushing record in win over BC

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Bhayshul Tuten rushed for a school-record 266 yards on 18 carries and scored four touchdowns to lead Virginia Tech to a 42-21 ACC victory over Boston College on Thursday night in Blacksburg, Va.

The Hokies (4-3, 2-1 ACC) led 14-0 after one quarter and 28-0 at halftime, but BC scored three TDs in a 5:53 span in the third quarter to make it a 28-21 contest. BC’s second and third TDs followed Virginia Tech turnovers.

Tuten’s third touchdown came on a 6-yard run and helped the Hokies extend their lead to 35-21 with 11:02 remaining in the game. The touchdown came three plays after BC (4-3, 1-2) had failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 play from its 49-yard line with 12:33 remaining.

Tuten added a 61-yard TD run with 8:28 to play. He also scored on an 83-yard run and caught a 20-yard TD pass from quarterback Kyron Drones, who had TD runs of 11 yards and 1 yard.

Darren Evans held Virginia Tech’s previous record for yards rushing in a game (253 in 2008).

BC scored on a 25-yard TD pass from quarterback Thomas Castellanos to Treshaun Ward, an 11-yard pass from Castellanos to Jeremiah Franklin and a 5-yard run by Kye Robichaux. The latter touchdown came with 2:55 remaining in the third quarter and trimmed Virginia Tech’s lead to 28-21.

Castellanos completed 17 of 26 passes for 205 yards but was limited to 58 yards rushing on 20 attempts.

Drones opened the scoring with his 11-yard TD, which capped an 11-play, 88-yard drive with 6:15 remaining in the first quarter. His QB sneak helped make it 14-0 with 3:06 left the first. Drones completed 14 of 18 passes for 164 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Tuten’s 83-yard TD run came with 12:40 left in the second quarter, and Virginia Tech led 28-0 after Tuten’s 20-yard TD reception and John Love’s PAT with 11 seconds to go in the first half.

The Eagles fumbled the ball away twice in the first half as the Hokies compiled 332 yards of offense. BC lost three fumbles in the game, leading to 21 points for Virginia Tech.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Stanford, California, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) runs with the football against the Stanford Cardinal during the fourth quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech ‘excited’ for Thursday night fight with Boston College

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Following a mutual bye week, Atlantic Coast Conference rivals will clash when Virginia Tech hosts Boston College in a primetime Thursday game in Blacksburg, Va.

The Hokies (3-3, 1-1) return to action for the first time since defeating new ACC member Stanford 31-7 in their first-ever regular-season game in California on Oct. 5.

“Thursday night, a sold-out crowd, ESPN national television, Orange Effect — there’s a lot to be excited about,” Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry said.

Pry’s team will face the challenge of Boston College (4-2, 1-1), which last allowed 24 unanswered points in a 24-14 loss at Virginia and is seeking its first win in Blacksburg since 2018.

Kyron Drones had a three-touchdown game and Bhayshul Tuten ran for his league-leading ninth score of the season against Stanford, but Virginia Tech ran away thanks to a stout defensive effort that included five different players recording sacks.

Among them was first-year Kaleb Spencer, who has racked up eight tackles (four for loss), one sack, a forced fumble and an interception in the last two games.

“He hunts the ball, he’s got good instincts,” Pry said. “He hustles, he’s got a nose for it, he plays physical. I’ve got a lot of respect for the way he’s playing.”

Defense has also been a calling card of Boston College’s game.

Despite losing for only the third time in program history when leading by 14 or more points, the Eagles have still allowed the fewest points per game in the ACC (17.2) this season.

First-year coach Bill O’Brien knows his team will be ready to bounce back in a big-time game.

“You should embrace it. This is what college football is all about,” he said. “It’s a big, big challenge to go down there … but our guys should be very excited, and I believe they are.”

Defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku has led the Eagles’ defensive effort, entering the week with an ACC-best nine sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.

Thomas Castellanos found two different receivers for first-half touchdowns at Virginia, but he turned the ball over three times and finished the game with negative rushing yards for the first time in his Eagles career.

“I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of being a quarterback,” Castellanos said. “I do feel like I haven’t been as dangerous as last year, and explosive, but it comes with me trying to show … I can throw the ball.”

Castellanos will be the focus of a Virginia Tech defense that is tied for the ACC lead with 20 sacks.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech uses defense, special teams to top Marshall

Posted on | by Field Level Media

On a day when Virginia Tech celebrated its past, the Hokies relied on an old-school formula, using defense and special teams to down Marshall 31-14 in Blacksburg, Va., on Saturday.

Jaylin Lane returned a punt for a touchdown and Virginia Tech (1-1) held Marshall to 278 yards of total offense and 12 first downs while paying tribute to its 1999 team that played in the BCS National Championship Game.

Bhayshul Tuten had 22 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Kyron Drones ran for a touchdown and threw for another as Virginia Tech avenged last season’s 24-17 loss to the Thundering Herd.

Drones completed 14 of 21 passes for 130 yards.

Marshall (1-1) sputtered on offense throughout the contest. Stone Earle completed 13 of 36 passes for 129 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The lone offensive spark for the Thundering Herd came from A.J. Turner, whose 69-yard run in the third quarter set up an 18-yard touchdown pass from Earle to Christian Fitzpatrick.

In a first half in which there were 13 punts, both teams scored a touchdown thanks to special teams.

Lane gave Virginia Tech a 7-0 lead on the final play of the first quarter when he caught a short punt on the run in heavy traffic, burst into the clear and then split a second wave of defenders on his way to a 58-yard touchdown.

After the Hokies took a 10-0 lead on a 42-yard field goal by John Love, Ahmere Foster gave Marshall a much-needed lift with a blocked punt that gave the Thundering Herd possession at the Hokies 5, leading to a 2-yard touchdown run by Ethan Payne with 3:19 left in the second quarter.

After leading 10-7 at the break, Virginia Tech thrived thanks to a run-heavy game plan, and it scored on its first three possessions of the second half.

Of his 21 passes on the day, Drones threw only five in the second half but completed them all for 88 yards.

Tuten scored on a 1-yard run with 8:02 remaining in the third quarter, putting the Hokies up 17-7.

Drones then helped set up his own 3-yard scoring run in the third quarter with a 49-yard completion to Stephen Gosnell, who made a diving, over-the-shoulder catch.

Drones completed the scoring early in the fourth quarter with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Da’Quan Felton. Mansoor Delane set up the score with an interception.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2023; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Jaylin Lane (83) catches a pass against Syracuse Orange defensive back Jason Simmons Jr. (6) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Virginia Tech outrushes Syracuse 318-0 in blowout win

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Da’Quan Felton caught two touchdown passes to propel Virginia Tech to a 38-10 win over Syracuse on Thursday in Blacksburg, Va.

Kyron Drones (15 of 24, 194 yards) and running back Malachi Thomas (13 carries, 87 yards) each threw a scoring pass to Felton. Bhayshul Tuten ran for 118 yards and a score for the Hokies (4-4, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), while John Love made all five of his field-goal attempts.

Virginia Tech was dominant in posting its third win in four games, outgaining the Orange 528-138 in total yards and outrushing the visitors 318-0.

Garrett Shrader went 12 of 18 for 138 yards with a touchdown for Syracuse (4-4, 0-4), although he was sacked eight times, including twice each by Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. and Mario Kendricks. The Orange were 0-for-9 on third-down conversions while losing their fourth straight game.

The contest was lopsided from the get-go, as Virginia Tech scored on its first six possessions while Syracuse punted on its first five drives.

The Hokies opened the scoring with a 43-yard field goal by Love and then extended their margin to 10-0 on a 22-yard pass from Thomas to Felton. Drones pitched to Thomas as Felton got behind the defense for the trick-play score.

Love added a 32-yard field goal late in the first quarter, punctuating a stanza in which the Hokies outgained the Orange 118 yards to 6.

The highlight of the second quarter was Drones’ well-thrown 62-yard touchdown pass to Felton, who streaked down the right sideline to make it 23-0 midway through the session.

The Orange finally got on the board on Brady Denaburg’s 43-yard field goal with 4:18 remaining in the half, but the hosts quickly responded as Drones’ 41-yard pass to Jaylin Lane set up Tuten’s 3-yard TD plunge.

The Hokies’ defense began the second half with a statement of its own, as Cole Nelson sacked Shrader in the end zone for a safety.

Shrader threw a 6-yard TD pass to Dan Villari midway through the third quarter, but the Orange never mounted a comeback down the stretch.

–Field Level Media