Brent Pry shares major Virginia Tech football injury updates…
Injuries have been piling up for the Virginia Tech football team over the first four weeks of the season, with a new player seemingly sidelined each week on both offense and defense.
On Monday, head coach Brent Pry addressed the media a day earlier than usual, as the Hokies prepare for a short week with a Friday night game at Miami. As is his routine, the third-year coach covered a range of topics, including injury updates, some of which brought significant but mixed news.
On the defensive side, linebacker Keli Lawson is considered “day-to-day” and will be limited this week, according to head coach Brent Pry. Lawson only played four snaps against Rutgers, and while the Hokies’ linebackers have performed well this season, losing Lawson for an extended period would be a significant setback. Another linebacker, Jayden McDonald, is also doubtful to play against Miami, further compounding the team’s defensive issues.
The injury news worsened on Tuesday when Pry announced that defensive tackle Kemari Copeland is “unlikely to play,” and left guard Layth Ghannam is confirmed to be out. These injuries add to the strain on both the defensive and offensive lines, with the latter struggling since the first game against Vanderbilt.
Copeland’s absence will increase the pressure on the remaining tackles, making it more challenging to contain Miami’s offense, especially quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez. The Hurricanes have been dominant offensively in the first month, with a strong ground game, and Copeland’s loss will be keenly felt.
Offensively, Ghannam joins a growing list of injured players, including Jennings, Drones, and Tuten, all of whom are dealing with injuries as the team heads into a tough matchup with Miami. Following this game, the Hokies will face Stanford before a much-needed bye week to recover some key players.
