In between the Virginia Tech football team becoming bowl-eligible with a 55-17 rout of Virginia Thanksgiving Weekend and the Hokeis 41-20 Military Bowl win over Tulane on Dec. 28, the Hokies and head coach Brent Pry got some early and post-Christmas gifts with a ton of retainment for the 2024 season.

Quarterback Kyron Drones headlined a number of key players off of the 2023 team that announced that he was returning to Blacksburg for another season. Running back Bhayshul Tuten, and wide receivers Jaylin Lane, Stephen Gosnell, Ali Jennings, and Da’Quan Felton also announced they were returning. On the defensive side of the ball, Antwaun Powell-Ryland and his 9.5 sacks announced he was returning, as did Dorian Strong and Mansoor Delane in the secondary are just a few examples of the retainment Pry got.

It’s safe to say that Pry was happy with the way things played out in the spring practices and the annual Spring Game in April, but the third-year head coach had a message for his players who are coming back before camp starts ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Brent Pry reveals message he gave his returning players for 2024
Virginia Tech returns 22 starters off a 7-6 team that won five of their eight ACC games and then a bowl game after a 1-3 start. Pry had a simple message for his team that got a lot of ink following the final nine games of the season.

“There working their butts off. I challenge them all to elevate their game and find ways to be better. The retention piece, the last thing I said was, ‘Don’t come back to be the same guy.’ Come back to be better and they’re all doing that. That’s a key to our success.”

His players appear to have got the message loud and clear. Drones has spent time this offseason working out with Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, while Felton and Jennings tagged along to get some work in as well.