BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry met with the media Wednesday following the Hokies' practice in preparation for Saturday's road game at Old Dominion.
Here are some quick-hitting notes from the availability:
" Running back Bhayshul Tuten sported a blue, non-contact jersey during the open portion of practice. It was a precautionary move for the starting tailback after he was rolled up on the first play of the fourth quarter against Marshall. Tuten had 22 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown when he got hurt. He did not return to the game with Malachi Thomas and P.J. Prioleau handling the tailback duties for the remainder of the game.
"He got hit pretty good, but I'd say he's 90%," Pry said. "We just didn't want to get him hit. He got some reps, got some practice in, but we wanted to make sure that scout team group didn't come up and get after him too good. So it was the right thing to put him in blue. He'll be fine."
" Inside linebacker Jayden McDonald wore street clothes during Wednesday's open portion of practice. The redshirt junior started the last season's final four games at Will linebacker and has been buried on the depth chart at Mike linebacker through two weeks. He played one defensive snap at Vanderbilt and was in for one defensive series against Marshall.
"He's being evaluated now," Pry said. "We'll see how long that takes, but he won't be available this weekend."
" Tight end Nick Gallo did not participate in practice as he continues to recover from a right knee injury suffered late in the 2023 preseason camp. He had been wearing a sleeve on his right knee, but he sported a sleeve and a brace on his knee during the open portion of Wednesday's practice. Pry has ruled Gallo out for this weekend.
"It's very unfortunate. He had a tough decision when he decided to come back last year. And then that happened," Pry said. "Then he makes a decision again to come back this year and he's had the setback that he's had. So I definitely feel for him."
" Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Chris Marve finished Wednesday's practice by doing 10 up-downs. Players are required to do up-downs when surrendering an explosive play, and Pry said Marve elected to do up-downs because "there was a mistake he made there." Were the 10 up-downs excessive?
"Yeah, I think he went overboard there, so he made his point," Pry said. "Coaches make mistakes, too."
" Saturday's contest will feature former Tech running back Bryce Duke wearing an ODU uniform. Duke transferred to ODU after the conclusion of last season. He's the No. 2 tailback behind Aaron Young and has 45 yards on 11 carries.
"Obviously I endorsed Bryce completely," Pry said of his conversations with ODU coach Ricky Rahne about Duke. "And they had a need and Bryce fit their need. I've got a ton of respect for Bryce Duke and what he meant to our program, how he went about his business. So outside of this game, I want to see him do really well."
" Brody Meadows missed last weekend's game against Marshall with what Pry called a "minor setback." Meadows worked as the No. 2 right guard during the open portion of Wednesday's practice. He actually split reps with Gunner Givens. Givens, a Lord Botetourt High graduate, is in his first season on the offensive line after initially joining the team as a defensive lineman. He played at 286 pounds last season and is up to 322 pounds.
"He was good playing either position. I said, listen, you run too good. Let's see if we can make you a D-tackle," Pry said. "And I think his familiarity and comfort level was on the O-line. But we gave it a good shot, and I'm not saying he couldn't be a solid D-tackle here one day, but we felt like his upside was more on the other side of the ball. And honestly, he was fighting gaining the weight. That was one thing. It's like, just let it happen. Let Mother Nature run its course and you're going to be a big guy."
" ODU starting quarterback Grant Wilson suffered an undisclosed injury at the end of last weekend's loss to East Carolina. Local reports indicate he was holding his left wrist and appeared in pain. While the Hokies are preparing for Wilson to start, they've also prepared in case Boston College transfer Emmett Morehead or redshirt freshman Colton Joseph get the nod.
"Yeah, I mean, obviously we're familiar with 7 (Wilson), but the backup listed on the depth chart (Morehead) wasn't dressed out for the last game. We certainly evaluated him and what he can do," Pry said. "And then the redshirt freshman (Joseph), the high school guy from California, we went back and watched his high school film and we looked at that last year when he was a freshman on the team. But he's an athletic guy. He's a lot like the starter. If that's the guy we see, I think things will be pretty similar."
" Kaleb Spencer saw his first defensive snaps in a Tech uniform as Keonta Jenkins' backup at Star linebacker against Marshall. Spencer's emergence after transferring from Miami over the summer has allowed Keli Lawson and Caleb Woodson to focus solely on Will linebacker.
"Yeah, he's still coming. I like him. (Shawn) Quinn likes him," Pry said. "I think that's where his future probably is. We messed around with him a little at Will backer also. But he's a physical player, he loves the game, he's twitchy. So we're bringing him along. I hope that as we get into the season, his snap count's gone up. And he's got a role on special teams, which is helping us."
Damien Sordelett (540) 981-3124
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