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Some Virginia Tech supporters might have questioned Brent Pry's performance as defensive coordinator, but his track record speaks for itself. Pry, who is in his fifth year with the Hokies, was the head coach for four seasons before being dismissed in September 2025. He was then rehired as defensive coordinator after Virginia Tech brought in former Penn State head coach James Franklin in November.
Pry had previously served as Franklin's defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt and Penn State, earning a reputation as a successful assistant before taking over as head coach at Virginia Tech in 2022. When Franklin was unexpectedly fired last October—less than a year after leading Penn State to the College Football Playoff—he had already intended to bring Pry on as his next defensive coordinator. The timing worked out perfectly for the Hokies, who made significant investments in the program to hire Franklin, one of college football's top coaches and recruiters, and he in turn brought Pry back.
Pry had other opportunities, but neither he nor his family wanted to leave Blacksburg. Reuniting with Franklin in a place he cherished was an ideal fit. Now came the challenge: despite the goodwill he had built over the past year, Pry needed to help turn around Virginia Tech's defense or the honeymoon phase would end.
Through eight games, the Hokies are 6-2 and just two field goals away from being undefeated. Pry's defense ranks 26th nationally in total defense, allowing 311.4 yards per game. The run defense is particularly stout, ranking 13th at 93.4 yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry. However, pass efficiency defense lags at No. 91, while third-down defense is 19th (31%), scoring defense is 37th (20.5 points per game), and team sacks are sixth (3.38 per game). The most eye-catching statistic is tackles for loss, where Virginia Tech ranks No. 1 nationally with 77.
Key Analysis
Defensive end Aycen Stevens leads the charge with 10.5 tackles for loss, second in the ACC, and also paces the Hokies with eight sacks. Defensive end Mylachi Williams and linebackers Noah Chambers and Kaleb Spencer each have nine tackles for loss. Virginia Tech boasts four of the top six players in the ACC in that category. In Saturday's win over Clemson, the Hokies recorded a remarkable 13 tackles for loss—a testament to their disruptive style. The Tigers are far from a pushover, making that performance even more impressive.
Criticism has surfaced regarding the pass defense, but it's worth noting that Pry lacks some key talent in the secondary. The unit played well against Clemson, offering hope that it is turning a corner. Outside of quarterback runs, the run defense has been excellent, and aside from the pass defense, everything else is solid. Virginia Tech faces a challenging stretch to close the season, with road games at SMU and No. 1 Miami. Pry and his defense will be tested, but while the unit may still be a work in progress, he has the Hokies playing fast and flying to the ball. As he continues to add talent to that side of the ball, the future looks bright. Pry's defense has been far from perfect, but the direction he is taking it is hard to ignore.
Originally reported by yahoo.