The Athletic Ranks Virginia Tech QB Kyron Drones at No. 46 Nationally, No. 10 in ACC

That strength of schedule only raises the stakes for Drones. For him to elevate his standing, he'll need to match or outplay some of the country's best collegiate quarterbacks.

Here's what The Athletic's take was on Drones:

"Drones’ physical talent is enticing. 'He’s 230 pounds of pure muscle,' an ACC personnel director said. 'He’s so hard to bring down.'

But as effective a runner as he is (1,154 yards, 11 TDs in the last two seasons), coaches want to know whether Drones can win through the air. His career completion rate is 59.4 percent.

'He's gonna have to prove he can play the position as a passer to be an all-around guy,' a Power 4 head coach said.

What's keeping Drones from a higher ranking isn't physical ability; rather, it's his health and refinement. To make the leap, Drones will need to show he can make more layered throws and read defenses at a higher level.

The 2025 season is pivotal for Drones, who has a real opportunity to establish himself as one of the ACC’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. But it also marks a make-or-break moment, both for him and for head coach Brent Pry. For Drones, it’s his final collegiate shot to prove he belongs in the NFL conversation. For Pry and his new-look staff, the pressure is on to unlock that potential and turn promise into production.