2025 Fall Camp Notebook: Staff Focusing on Confident, Situational Football

Last week, Defensive Line Coach JC Price told us he doesn’t count the practices until the pads come on. Well, on Wednesday, fall camp got real for the Hokies as they suited up in full gear for the first time. 

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Before the Hokies took the field, Sons of Saturday attended the program’s annual Media Day. It was the first chance this Fall to speak to members of the coaching staff and the full roster, which both experienced turnover this offseason. With so much to break down, I’m gonna take you through what media day was like for me, and along the way, bring you some of the biggest takeaways, potential breakout stars, and what the coaches have seen in camp so far.

Head Coach Brent Pry

2025 Media Day, of course, began with the head man. Pry said he is pleased with the effort he has seen in camp, saying “the competition level is at an all-time high.” He says the Hokies have embraced the structural changes that come with a new offense and defense. 

• The running back position is one of the big mysteries on the Hokies’ roster this year after losing star Bhayshul Tuten to the NFL. One player that will attempt to fill that Tuten-shaped hole in the offense is Bowling Green transfer Terion Stewart. At 5’9, 222 pounds, Stewart is described as a bowling ball, with Pry saying he’s “got some of the traits that Bhayshul had.” Pry highlighted Central Missouri transfer Marcellous Hawkins, saying he might be “the most well-rounded” back the Hokies have. Pry says Hawkins slimmed down this offseason, making him faster and more explosive. PJ Prioleau, Tyler Mason, Jeremiah Coney, and Braydon Bennett will fight for reps in “one of the more competitive rooms” on the team. Pry said he’s looking for 3 guys to get a majority of the reps this season.
• At cornerback, Pry says there is a four-way competition for reps between returners Dante Lovett and Thomas Williams, and transfers Isaiah Brown-Murray and Caleb Brown.
• Another position featuring a lot of new faces is the offensive line. Pry says that the group has made a lot of progress and “Ultimately, they’re playing together much better.” Pry notes there has been an increased focus on limiting mental mistakes under new OL Coach Matt Moore.
• Pry says new inside linebackers coach and VT legend Xavier Adibi is already making a big impact. Pry credits Adibi with mentoring Caleb Woodson, who’s entering his second season with the team. Pry said Woodson “arguably has the best motor on the team.”
• Finally, Pry discussed the emphasis on situational football entering this season, following 5 losses in one-score games in 2024. Pry says the team has changed its approach to practice to focus more on critical situations that could come up during a game, saying, “We’re diving into situational football more than we ever have.” Pry says he’s leaned on Defensive Coordinator Sam Siefkes’ NFL experience to help the team get better in those moments. 

New Offensive Coordinator Philip Montgomery

• With the tight competition at running back, Coach Montgomery said he’s looking for someone who can add more to the offense out of the backfield and in pass protection. Ahead of the first day in full pads, he wants to see who could break tackles and make defenders miss.
• The Hokies will feature some new faces at receiver this season, headlined by transfers Cameron Seldon and Donovan Greene, coming over from Tennessee and Wake Forest, respectively. Montgomery highlighted Seldon’s versatility, saying, “If you ask him, he’s not a receiver, but he’s also not a running back. He’s a football player.” When I asked him about Greene, Montgomery valued the experience he brings to the room, saying, “he’s an old guy, he’s seen it all.” Montgomery praised Greene’s ability to get open out of breaks.
• Montgomery commented on his time with the Hokies so far, saying he and his wife are blessed to be in Blacksburg. He said he values working with a defensive-minded coach like Brent Pry. 

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Coach Montgomery on the dynamic between him and a defensive-minded HC like Pry

New Defensive Coordinator Sam Siefkes

• When building his first roster in Blacksburg, Siefkes said a major goal in the transfer portal was to find D-linemen with some size that can stop the run.
• Sticking with the transfers, Siefkes says new linebackers Antwone Santiago and Michael Short are fitting in well with the unit led by returners Jaden Keller and Caleb Woodson.
• Siefkes spoke very highly of Woodson, saying he asked the junior to get in front of the team during camp to talk about his routine. Says his consistency as a player has stood out early.
• Siefkes echoed Pry’s emphasis on situational football, saying “we’ve been doing it ever since the Spring when I first got here,” and that it “was one of the first things we started to address.” 

Special Teams Coordinator Stu Holt

• Holt addressed the open competition at the kick returner slot, saying there are several candidates for the job, including PJ Prioleau, Thomas Williams, Tyler Mason, and Cam Seldon. Holt says he thinks the running back skill set fits the position best because he “likes guys that can break tackles and the guys that have vision.”
• There seems to be less controversy at the punt returner slot, where All-ACC returner Tucker Holloway is set to retake his spot after a year hampered by injuries. 

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Special Teams Coordinator Stu Holt on whether WR Tucker Holloway will return to the Punt Returner spot after a year hampered by injuries: “I hope so”, then cracked a smile and said “he’s really good”

Special teams can be a phase of the game where freshmen can get involved early, Holt noted a few of the standouts in his press conference, including safety Sheldon Robinson and cornerback Knahlij Harrell. 

To "The Beamer Barn" to speak to the offense

Now for the fun part, finally getting to meet the guys who will strap it up against South Carolina at the end of the month. The first guy I spoke to was Tucker Holloway, who says the year away from the game was a great learning experience for him.

I then spoke to transfer running back Terion Stewart, one of the guys trying to take the mantle from record-breaker Bhayshul Tuten. He told me what the driving factor was in picking the Hokies during his transfer recruitment.

Wake Forest transfer WR Donavon Greene is embracing his role as a mentor to the younger pass catchers as he enters his 6th year in college. He describes himself as a “big-bodied” receiver who will make explosive plays down the field, and with his long 6’2 frame, his catch radius his limitless. He says this offense under Philip Montgomery will be “very explosive…fast and exciting.” 

Quarterback Kyron Drones comes into the season feeling confident under his new offensive coordinator. Drones said that even in spring ball, he felt like he had been throwing to his new receivers “for years.” He said that the biggest focus this offseason has been building consistency. 

The defense takes the field

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LB Jaden Keller on facing dual-threat QB LaNorris Sellers Week 1

My favorite guy I talked to during media day and someone I think Hokie Nation will soon come to love is East Carolina transfer Isaiah Brown-Murray, who thinks he fits Siefkes’ scheme perfectly. From a brief description of his play style, it's clear he will fit the Lunch Pail mantra as well. 

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Transfer CB Isaiah Brown-Murray in his play style. Says he fits “perfectly” into Sam Siefkes’ scheme.

I wrapped up 2025 Media Day by speaking to corners coach Derek Jones. Jones said that he is excited to see the open competition in the DB room.

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Coach Derek Jones on the competition in the DB room

When I asked Coach Jones what fans can expect from this year’s squad, he said, “I think you’re gonna see a defense that plays fast, a defense that plays confident, and a defense that plays hungry.” 

Virginia Tech fans are hoping that is exactly the type of team that will take the field on August 29th in Atlanta. 

The first guy I talked to on defense is one of its leaders. Linebacker Jaden Keller says the defense is still adjusting and learning Sam Siefkes’ new scheme, but they’re “flying around and having fun.” I also asked about the challenge of facing a dynamic QB in week 1, and while he says the Hokies aren’t focused on South Carolina yet, they’re very aware of what the Gamecocks’ signal-caller can do. 

"I think you're gonna see a defense that plays fast, a defense that plays confident, and a defense that plays hungry."

Cornerbacks Coach Derek Jones on what the defense will look like under Sam Siefkes