Following the Hokies' annual bye week, Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry took to the podium to discuss how his team looks to take down fellow ACC squad, the Syracuse Orange.
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Quick hits
* Injured receiver Ali Jennings has yet to make a decision on his season, Jennings may be able to find himself with the squad toward season's end. If he plays just two more times, he can take advantage of a redshirt still.
Pry and his squad are awaiting a Syracuse side that is riddled with familiarity. One of the most important connections is that while Pry coached at Penn State, the Nittany Lions were heavy on the trail of four-star Cuse QB, Garret Shrader.
"We recruited him at my previous stop and we know a lot about him," the head Hokie explained. "He's a good, strong athlete. He's got good speed, a lot of confidence. You know, I think when he's playing his A game, he's an awful good quarterback."
Since transferring up north prior to the 2021 season, Shrader has compiled decent numbers being responsible for 34 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, along with 5,456 yards.
Shrader's passing stats are not the only thing to watch out for, the Charlotte native has impressed with his mobility as he is Syracuse's second-leading rusher, with 358 yards averaging out to 4.6 yards per carry. An impressive number considering in college, sacks count against the QB's numbers.
"We have to always be aware of these guys that are dual-threat guys scrambling for first down, whether you spy him whether you twist your front, whether you're playing a tight zone coverage where you can get some guys rally into him, but it's certainly a part of the gameplan."
The Hokies have a special history with ESPN Thursday night games: their record stands at 23-12 including 12-7 under the Lane lights. Thursday night football has been synonymous with the program and the game against Syracuse will be their first time since the West Virginia Mountaineers took down Pry's squad in an authoritative 33-10 victory last September. Pry was quoted that when he was a coach at other schools in the past, he would still make sure to tune in to watch the Hokies play those few and far between nights.
For Syracuse, this Thursday night matchup against the Hokies means it will be the end of their three-game away trip - and they're hoping for the end of a three-game losing streak. This is a streak that has lasted since Sept. 23 (including a Sept. 30 home game against Clemson), and Syracuse has found a number of struggles. Those struggles can be encapsulated by one stat. Since the Orange's home game against Army, they have been outscored 24- 112. Although all three of their opponents are ACC-based and include the likes of FSU, UNC, and Clemson, I am not sure Coach Babers and his side would want to end their woeful streak with a trip to what Babers called "one of the atmospheres that people in people in college football all hear about and know about."
The Hokies will square off against Syracuse Thursday night at 7:30 on ESPN with an opportunity to even their record at 4-4, and once again place themselves well into the bowl conversation as the season's finish line approaches.
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