Virginia Tech Hokies 2026 Season Preview

Franklin brought his quarterback with him. Ethan Grunkemeyer, the only passer on the roster with real college snaps, started seven games for Penn State last fall and completed nearly 70 percent of his throws, closing with 777 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions over the final four contests. He was thrown into the fire early, drawing Iowa, Ohio State and Indiana in his first three starts before rattling off wins to end the year, a bowl victory over Clemson among them. He owns a strong arm, makes sound decisions and is more mobile than his reputation suggests. North Carolina transfer Bryce Baker and highly touted freshman Troy Huhn add developmental depth behind him.

Senior Ayden Greene is a polished, competitive target who paced the group a year ago and gives Grunkemeyer a reliable anchor. The headline addition is Que'Sean Brown, a shifty Duke transfer who piled up 64 catches for 846 yards and five scores in the slot despite a 5-8, 170-pound frame; he is regarded as the team's most physical contested-catch threat and may be its fastest player. Louisiana Tech transfer Marlion Jackson and returnee Takye Heath round out a corps that is otherwise unproven but suddenly deeper.

Tight end may be the roster's strongest room. Benji Gosnell has started three straight seasons and holds more than 50 career grabs, and Franklin can pair him in power sets with Penn State transfer Luke Reynolds, a former five-star recruit who started 11 games the past two years for the Nittany Lions and profiles as a legitimate all-conference candidate at the position. Ja'Ricious Hairston and fellow Penn State transfer Matt Henderson fill out the rotation.

Marcellous Hawkins quietly ranked among the ACC's most efficient backs, averaging 6.3 yards a carry for 749 yards despite playing on a three-win team. A sturdy 226-pound senior who transferred up from the Division II ranks, he missed spring work, which opened the door for Louisiana transfer Bill Davis and gave a look to freshman Jeffrey Overton, who flashed at 5.8 a pop. Add true freshman Messiah Mickens and this is a deep, physical stable that fits Franklin's history of ground-heavy offenses.

This is the swing unit. The front struggled badly to protect the passer in 2025 and remains the clearest area the Hokies must fix. Center Kyle Altuner is a returning full-time starter who locks down the interior, and guard Layth Ghannam is back beside him. Oklahoma transfer Logan Howland steps in at tackle, joined by veterans Brody Meadows and Georgia State transfer Montavious Cunningham, and Franklin restocked the room with a wave of Power Four transfers. The staff insists there are a dozen bodies legitimately competing, but outside of Altuner nearly every job feels genuinely up for grabs.

Kemari Copeland is the building block. A weight-room standout at defensive tackle, the senior racked up 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks with NFL traits and gives Pry an anchor inside. End Aycen Stevens returns after a productive run of starts, and Elhadj Fall adds interior snaps. Beyond that, the front is a question mark: Tech lost an all-conference edge rusher and a first-team all-league tackle, then leaned on the portal, importing ends such as Penn State transfers Mylachi Williams and Javion Hilson to compete alongside Jason Abbey. There is depth to develop, but few proven playmakers other than Copeland.

The middle should be steadier and healthier. Kaleb Spencer led the team in tackles a year ago and rates as a genuine playmaker, while sophomore Noah Chambers brings hard-hitting, all-conference upside next to him. Curtis Jones arrives through the portal to add starts and pop, and Keon Wylie factors in on the edge. It is a group with more bodies than certainty, and Pry will need one of the newcomers to emerge behind the top two.

The secondary got a heavy makeover after the pass defense slipped near the bottom of the league. Safety Quentin Reddish returns from a shoulder injury and turned heads in the spring, hinting at a jump; senior Tyson Flowers, a two-year starter with more than 60 stops, plays alongside him. At corner, Troy transfer Jaquez White brings 12 starts and three interceptions, Penn State transfer Kenny Woseley Jr. adds experience, and returnees Isaiah Brown-Murray and Joshua Clarke, back from a torn ACL, deepen the rotation. If the newcomers gel, this unit projects for a sizable climb.

The kicking game is a real strength. John Love is one of the country's most dependable placekickers, a two-time All-ACC honorable mention who has connected on 84.4 percent of his career field goals, hit five from 50-plus over the past two seasons and is perfect on more than 100 career extra points, including a bowl-record 60-yarder against Minnesota. Marshall transfer Nathan Totten takes over the punting with a strong net average, and Brown could jump-start a punt return game that badly needs it. In a nod to program history, one player wears No. 25 each week to honor Frank Beamer.