Ahead of the 2024 college football season, the Virginia Tech Hokies had one key position still up for grabs: the backup quarterback. The decision came down to redshirt freshman William “Pop” Watson or graduate transfer Collin Schlee.
On Wednesday, head coach Brent Pry chose Schlee as the backup to star quarterback Kyron Drones. This decision, while not unexpected given Schlee’s experience, was seen as the right choice. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 225 pounds, Schlee began his career at Kent State before transferring to UCLA in 2023, where he appeared in seven games and made two starts.
Pry explained his choice, noting Schlee’s impressive performance despite not being with the team for much of the summer. “Yeah, it’s Collin Schlee,” Pry said, according to Kolby Crawford of 247Sports. “It’s performance-based.
We’re not disappointed in Pop; he’s improved and had a minor injury setback. Collin’s been very impressive—he’s a good student of the game, has a strong arm, is athletic, and can run our offense. This decision is more a compliment to Collin than a critique of Pop.”
If Drones remains healthy, he will start every game, and the Hokies’ offense is expected to be strong. However, if Drones is sidelined, Schlee’s similar skillset—being big, strong-armed, and mobile—will allow offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen to maintain a consistent offensive style.
Pry emphasized that Watson, as a redshirt freshman, will be the third-string quarterback and likely see playtime in blowouts. Given Schlee’s addition, he was always intended to be the primary backup in 2024.
