Virginia Tech senior tight end Nick Gallo had knee surgery this week and will miss the rest of the season, head coach Brent Pry announced at his Tuesday news conference.
Gallo, who was voted as one of seven team captains, was injured on a non-contact play in August, going up to make a catch in a scrimmage and landing awkwardly.
He has the option of applying for a medical redshirt and returning for another season, though Pry hasn’t spoken to him about the possibility yet to see if there’s interest.
“Unfortunate for Nick,” Pry said. “Our hearts go out to him. A guy that had a strong conviction to come back and be a captain and a leader, which he’s still going to have the ability to do that and he will do that. He wants to do that.”
Gallo made the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award after making 55 catches for 469 yards and a touchdown in his first four years at Tech.
Three second-year players are next on the depth chart, with redshirt freshman Benji Gosnell occupying the top spot on the depth chart. He made his first career start in his first college action Saturday against Old Dominion, catching one pass for 23 yards.
Dae’Quan Wright, who had one catch for 14 yards and dropped another pass, and Harrison Saint Germain are next.
Gosnell played 59 snaps, Wright 20 and Saint Germain 12 against ODU.
“It was a really strong room, I thought, with Nick and his experience and maturity coupled with those guys,” Pry said. “I think now there’s added pressure. … We’ve got to just bring those guys along a little faster. I really like all three of them. I think we’re very fortunate to have three young tight ends in the program like those guys.”
Pry said Gallo’s injury will lead to the Hokies getting a fourth tight end prepped for action. That could be true freshman Zeke Wimbush or redshirt sophomore walk-on Cole Pickett.
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Part of the game, but I sure hate to see this happen to him. Think his absence really hurt our run game Saturday. Hope he is part of the plan to coach up the others.
He will be missed. Best wishes for a speedy and successful recovery!
Best to Nick. Wonder how this affects the offensive scheme. We’re probably better suited to a conservative passing game than to a power running game, and now we’ve lost our best TE blocker.
Wright and Gosnell are better receivers, but not blockers
Pray for a quick and speedy recovery for Nick.
I hope the Tight End group has the light bulb come on regarding BLOCKING, RUNNING the PROPER ROUTES and CATCHING the FOOTBALL ASAP.
To paraphrase Bill Engvall, “Here’s your chance!”
Not sure how it’s a strong TE room. Gosnell looked strong as a pass catcher but struggled blocking. Wright didn’t look good at all and if anything regressed
“It was a really strong room, I thought, with Nick and his experience and maturity”
Emphasis on “was”
A big loss for HOKIE NATION. Nick, my thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy and complete recovery.
Hope for a healthy and speedy recovery.
Well, that is not the type of news the Hokies need on a Monday after the TE group failed to distinguish itself against ODU – time for the next guy(s) to step up in a hurry.
Pretty sure most of us knew he was not coming back this year. The way his injury was reported I didn’t expect him to come back. Best wishes to the young man.