The Drones Tyler Bowen Is Looking For

Virginia Tech will have a new face in the quarterback room. Kyron Drones opted to transfer to Tech after signing with Baylor as part of the 2021 cycle. Drones, a 6-2, 223 rising redshirt sophomore, was rated a four-star (0.9087) prospect by 247Sports Composite coming out of Shadow Creek HS (Texas). He committed to the Hokies over offers from BYU, Indiana, Northwestern and Kentucky. Based on a film review of Drones' cameos as a backup to Baylor starter Blake Shapen, I think his commitment reflects a growing commitment to Brad Glenn's RPO-oriented zone scheme focused style offense he ran at Georgia State. Drones has three years of eligibility remaining, and will have an immediate opportunity to grow with the offense.

Drones got his best look against Power Five competition against West Virginia when he entered the game midway through the third quarter after Shapen was injured on a targeting play. The Baylor coaching staff responded by trusting him enough to go for a 4th-and-goal from outside the 3-yard-line in a tie game. The Bears spread out the Mountaineers in a four-wide look, and despite being a freshman in a hostile environment, Drones identified man coverage and checked to a slant off a pick back to the boundary. Note how he was up at the line of scrimmage assertively making the check before the ball was snapped.

Drones' mechanics were not great on the play. He set his feet like he was going to throw the out to the pylon and wide receiver Monaray Baldwin (No. 80), who set the pick for the slanting Hal Presley (No. 16). Even though Baldwin could have been open with a sharp, leading throw to the pylon, free safety Aubrey Burks (No. 2) blitzed off the edge and took away Drones' throwing lane. Drones reacted without adjusting his feet and threw down and to the left back across his body to hit Presley with a laser on the slant. Everything was ugly, but the ball got where it needed to go in a tough situation with West Virginia taking away his first option. I like the moxy he displayed.

As the game progressed, he continued to look in control.