Last season was one to forget for Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones. Entering the year with high expectations, Drones battled through a series of injuries that caused him to miss four games and limited his effectiveness even when he did take the field. It wasn’t until the offseason that the full extent of those injuries came to light—he had been playing hurt for much of the year.
That context helps explain the dip in performance from Drones, who showed real promise during a strong 2023 campaign—his first as a starter after transferring from Baylor. Despite a disappointing 2024 season, there’s optimism heading into 2025. Drones has lost some key offensive weapons, but he’ll benefit from a new offensive coordinator and a more quarterback-friendly system.
Virginia Tech brought in Phillip Montgomery as its new OC, replacing Tyler Bowen. Montgomery, a former head coach at Tulsa and a seasoned offensive coordinator, brings a system well-suited to Drones’ dual-threat abilities. The Hokies also added Matt Moore to lead the offensive line, a unit expected to show improvement this fall.
Now one of the ACC’s most experienced quarterbacks, Drones heads into the 2025 season with something to prove. Where does he stand among his peers?
Andy Staples of On3 recently released his top 10 ACC quarterbacks for 2025, and Drones landed at No. 9.
Here’s what Staples had to say:
“Drones took a step back during an injury-riddled 2024 season, but he still has the arm and the wheels that offered so much promise when he came to Virginia Tech from Baylor.
After OC Tyler Bowen left to coach the offensive line at Ohio State, Hokies coach Brent Pry brought in former Baylor OC and Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery to run the offense. Montgomery’s offense is fairly quarterback-friendly, so we’ll see if it can make the most of Drones’ skillset.”
Here’s the full list:
That’s fair. Kyron Drones has a lot to prove this season—and he knows it. While Tyler Bowen wasn’t as ineffective as some critics claim, the addition of Phillip Montgomery is undeniably a step up. That’s good news for Drones. If he can stay healthy, don’t be surprised if he rises up the rankings with a strong final season in Blacksburg.
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