Brent Pry has made two big transfer portal splashes at Virginia Tech including Marshall starting quarterback Grant Wells who has announced that he is transferring to the Hokies.
Let’s get to work! pic.twitter.com/2kL4QOpB3n
— Grant Wells (@GrantWells__) January 6, 2022
Wells has been the starting QB for Marshall for the past two seasons earning Conference USA Freshman of the Year and All-Conference USA First Team honors during the 2020 season and Honorable Mention honors this past season. During his time at Marshall, Wells threw for 5,623 yards, 34 touchdowns, 22 interceptions, and a 64.3% completion rate while rushing for 9 touchdowns including 7 this past season.
Wells brings three years of eligibility to Blacksburg thanks to the free COVID year from 2020.
J.C. Price and Mike Villagrana both likely deserve some credit as Price was on staff at Marshall for Wells' first two seasons at Marshall (redshirting in 2019 plus 2020) while Villagrana had connections from his time as Marshall's general manager.
Wells is a much-needed addition to a Virginia Tech QB room that only had three scholarship QBs entering the offseason in Connor Blumrick, Tahj Bullock, and incoming freshman Devin Farrell. The arrival of Wells and South Carolina QB Jason Brown creates an instant competition for the starting job between those two with Brown's Power 5 experience potentially giving him the slight edge.
Wells seems to fit the mold that Pry and his staff are looking for especially based on what Tyler Bowen influenced offenses have looked like at Penn State with a pass-first QB who has some mobility as well. Wells brings that to the table while proving to be a playmaker as a passer though he definitely has some work to do cleaning up some of the interceptions after having 13 this past season.
There's no doubt that Wells was one of the best young quarterbacks in the country in the Power 5 with this being like a four-star JUCO addition in many ways for the Hokies.