If you listened to some Virginia Tech fans, you’d think Brent Pry was doing a terrible job in his first year as the Hokies’ defensive coordinator. Pry, of course, is judged a bit differently because he’s technically in his fifth year with the Hokies. Pry, Virginia Tech’s head coach for the last four seasons before he was fired in Sept. 2025, was rehired as the new defensive coordinator when the Hokies hired former Penn State head coach James Franklin last November.
Pry was Franklin’s successful defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt and Penn State before taking over as head coach at Virginia Tech in 2022. When Franklin was surprisingly fired last October, less than a year after leading Penn State to the College Football Playoff, he had already planned to hire his good friend Pry as his next defensive coordinator.
Things couldn’t have worked out more perfectly for the Hokies. Virginia Tech made serious investments into the football program, was able to hire Franklin — one of college football’s top coaches and recruiters — and he was able to bring Pry back. Pry had other options, but neither he nor his family wanted to leave Blacksburg, and reuniting with Franklin in a place he loved was perfect.
Now, the hard part. Pry, despite the goodwill he’d built over the past year, had to help turn around VT’s defense, or the honeymoon would be over. Through eight games, the Hokies are 6-2 and two field goals away from being 8-0. Pry’s defense ranks 26th nationally in total defense.
Let’s look more closely at some of the defensive rankings.
- Total defense: No. 26 (311.4 YPG)
- Run defense: No. 13 (93.4 YPG) (3.0 YPC)
- Pass efficiency defense: (No. 91)
- 3rd-down defense: No. 19 (31%)
- Scoring defense: No. 37 (20.5 PPG)
- Team sacks: N0. 6 (3.38 per game)
- Tackles for loss: No. 1 (77)
A few things stick out here. First, the pass defense. It hasn’t been good. Tech’s secondary played well against Clemson, so there’s hope it’s turning around. Outside of QB runs, the run defense has been very good. Outside of pass defense, everything is pretty solid.
The most impressive stat is that Tech is No. 1 nationally with 77 tackles for loss. Defensive end Aycen Stevens leads the way with 10.5. He is second in the ACC. Stevens also leads the Hokies with eight sacks. Defensive end Mylachi Williams and linebackers Noah Chambers and Kaleb Spencer each have nine TFLs. Virginia Tech has four of the top six players in the ACC in tackles for loss. In Saturday’s win over Clemson, the Hokies had a remarkable 13 tackles for loss.
That’s impressive. The Tigers aren’t VMI.
Some criticism has been leveled at Pry because of the pass defense. Nevermind that he lacks some key talent in the secondary. Virginia Tech has a tough stretch to finish the season, with road games at SMU and No. 1 Miami. Pry, and the Hokies’ defense will be tested.
While the defense may still be a work in progress, Pry has Virginia Tech playing fast and flying to the ball. Imagine as he continues to add more talent to that side of the ball. Pry’s defense has been far from perfect, but it’s hard not to like the direction he’s taking it.