Virginia Tech didn’t have much going offensively in a red-zone 7-on-7 drill during Thursday’s practice, though tight end Nick Gallo had a sliver of space in the back of the end zone on one play. Safety Jaylen Jones closed fast, however, batting away the throw for an incompletion.

His defensive teammates burst into joy, running onto the field in a mass celebration for the PBU.

“That’s the thing that coach [Brent] Pry brought to the team — just the competition and energy,” safety Nasir Peoples said. “And that’s what we try to do, and I think that’s what’s helping us get a lot better.”

The defense won the drill and, for the most part, the day in what was the Hokies’ second preseason practice. During the aforementioned red-zone 7-on-7 drill, the offense only completed one touchdown pass, which was of the accidental variety. A surefire pick on a ball from Kyron Drones slipped through Derrick Canteen’s hands at the goal line, right to Ali Jennings, who almost apologetically reeled it in for the score. 

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