Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech quarterback Collin Schlee did not disappoint in his first start as a Hokie. In Saturday’s contest against the Syracuse Orange, the UCLA transfer wowed with both his arm and legs in the absence of starting quarterback Kyron Drones. Schlee and the Hokies welcome a nationally ranked Clemson team to Blacksburg this Saturday, Nov. 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET with coverage on ESPN.
Schlee had his name called against Syracuse as quarterback Kyron Drones recovers from a series of injuries (back, foot) accrued over eight games at the helm. At the quarterback position, the Ijamsville, Maryland native threw for 206 yards on 24 attempts for a 66.7% completion rate in 74 snaps on offense. Schlee found success in both short and long passes, hitting graduate student Ali Jennings for a 12-yard score in the third quarter and connecting with receiver Stephen Gosnell on a 48-yard reception in the first quarter. For his work against the Orange Saturday, Schlee earned a 152.52 efficiency rating, his highest as a Hokie thus far.
The redshirt senior also provided Hokie fans with excitement by using his legs throughout Saturday’s matchup. On 19 attempts, Schlee rushed for 54 yards, third highest on the team behind running backs Jeremiah Coney (96) and Malachi Thomas (73). The UCLA transfer also found paydirt by showcasing his mobility on a 1-yard scamper late in the first quarter to put the Hokies up two scores. Schlee’s six carries on third down proved necessary to keep offensive drives alive over four quarters.
Schlee’s play Saturday was admirable not only for what he was able to accomplish by himself but also for how he elevated the Hokies on offense. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback involved eight offensive players on Saturday, most notably throwing two passes of over 40 yards to wide receiver Stephen Gosnell for a career-high 118 receiving yards. Schlee’s production was also a key contributor to the Hokies’ first game where both passing and rushing totals were over 200 yards since last season against Virginia.
Schlee and the Hokies welcome a No. 19 Clemson team that saw a significant dip in their national ranking after last week’s home loss to Louisville. Stay tuned to see if the Hokies can take advantage of a tested Tigers team that has not lost back-to-back games since Oct. 2023. To see the Hokies live on Saturday and be a part of the Stripe Effect, be sure to explore single-game ticket options on SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace for Virginia Tech Athletics.