The Hokies seemed to have a quarterback in place when Kyron Drones and Pop Watson announced their plans to stay at Virginia Tech following the 2024 season. Furthermore, two gifted dual-threat quarterbacks, A.J. Brand and Kelden Ryan, committed to the Hokies after enrolling in January.
But on Wednesday, former Oklahoma State quarterback Garret Rangel shocked everyone by committing to Virginia Tech. From Frisco, Texas, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Rangel was born. Rangel, a former four-star prospect, redshirted in his first season (2022) and played for the Cowboys for three seasons.
Here’s a look at Rangel’s numbers each year:
- 2022: Four games played, 59/115 (51.3%), 711 passing yards, four touchdowns, five interceptions
- 2023: Five games played, 17/32 (53.1%), 172 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception
- 2024: Four games played, 17/33 (51.5%), 192 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception
After spring practice, Rangel went via the transfer portal. He already had a contact with Philip Montgomery, the offensive coordinator at Virginia Tech, who recruited him while he was head coach at Tulsa.
What role does Rangel play in Virginia Tech’s 2025 plans, then? He was not signed to start. Drones is the unquestioned starter, as long as he’s healthy. Drones just had a medical operation after battling many injuries over the previous season. According to head coach Brent Pry, he will be prepared for fall camp with plenty of time.
Watson will compete with Rangel for the backup position. Both of Watson’s career starts were in the last two games of the previous campaign. He completed 14 of 21 throws for 254 yards and one score in the regular-season finale against Virginia, demonstrating his exceptional play. In addition, he ran for a touchdown and 48 yards. In the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Watson also started against Minnesota and completed eight of 12 passes for 81 yards and an interception.
Even though Brand and Ryan enrolled in January, it would be asking too much for them to play as a true freshman. Redshirt freshman Davi Belfort transferred following spring practice.
Rangel should be considered insurance for Drones. Is the addition of a quarterback an indication that the Hokies don’t trust Watson? Maybe, but it makes more sense to bring in an experienced player when your quarterback is dealing with a lot of injuries.
In addition to the 19 players who committed during the winter portal window, the Hokies concluded the spring portal window with 11 new additions, including Rangel, capping off a busy week.
