Virginia Tech football: Backup quarterback Quincy Patterson enters the transfer portal

The Virginia Tech Hokies will be one scholarship quarterback short for the remainder of the 2020 season.

On Monday, redshirt sophomore Quincy Patterson announced he was entering the transfer portal.

While this news is certainly not unexpected, it is still sad. Patterson, a four-star signee from Chicago in the class of 2018, was expected to be Virginia Tech’s quarterback of the future.

Unfortunately, that development never happened and Patterson was relegated to backup duty in each of the last two seasons.

Patterson appeared in three games this season, completing seven of 10 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Patterson also rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown.

He relieved Braxton Burmeister in the season-opening win over N.C. State and performed quite well. Patterson completed four of six passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 47 yards and another score.

Patterson’s most extensive work came in 2019 in the epic six-overtime win over North Carolina. Patterson entered the game for an injured Hendon Hooker and led the Hokies to a win in one of the more exciting games in recent Lane Stadium history.

Patterson’s only start would come two weeks later against Notre Dame when he almost led the Hokies to an upset win in South Bend. While his passing numbers didn’t stand out, Patterson was solid in his only career start on what was a windy day.

Patterson’s leaving is another strike against head coach Justin Fuente and offensive coordinator Brad Cornelsen. Their inability to find — and keep — a starting quarterback during the last five years is one of many reasons the Hokies are in their current predicament.

JUCO transfer Jerod Evans was terrific in 2016, then decided to leave Blacksburg. Hooker has had some strong moments in each of the last two years, but has regressed in recent weeks, in large part to the unimaginative offensive coaching staff.

Other quarterbacks such as Ryan Willis and Josh Jackson had forgettable reigns atop Virginia Tech’s quarterback depth chart under Fuente.

The biggest issue for each of these passers is a lack of development. Instead of the quarterbacks improving, they all appear to be regressing. That’s coaching.

We here at Gobbler Country wish Quincy Patterson nothing but the best. A fantastic young man who represented Virginia Tech in the best possible way deserves to have his happy ending in college football.