Virginia Tech tight end Luke Reynolds has added another line to an already eye-catching season, landing among the nine semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, given each year to the nation’s top college tight end.
Reynolds, a junior from Westford, Massachusetts, has piled up an FBS-best 56 catches for 560 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. He’s averaging 10.0 yards per reception, and he also became the first tight end in Virginia Tech history to post at least 100 receiving yards in back-to-back games.
Elsewhere in the region, Old Dominion’s women kept their Sun Belt title run alive with a 1-0 semifinal win over No. 3 seed App State on Wednesday in Foley, Alabama. Ashley Economopoulos broke through in the 49th minute, finishing off a setup from Koto Davis to send the No. 2 seed Monarchs into the championship match.
Old Dominion improved to 11-6-2 and reached its third title match in the past five seasons. The Monarchs will play the winner of James Madison and South Alabama at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Batten University goalkeeper Allie Greco picked up one of the top individual honors in the ODAC, earning Defensive Player of the Year. She was joined on the All-ODAC first team by teammates Alaina Alston, Madison Toone and Tori Mills. Kaylyn Seitz and Jocelyn Robinson made the second team, while Alexis Manfredi and Alex Ortega were third-team selections.
Greco finished with a 12-0-6 record, 40 saves and only three goals allowed across 18 games.
On the men’s soccer side, Virginia had two fourth-year midfielders recognized on the All-ACC second team. Brendan Lambe and Marco Dos Santos earned the honor, along with Virginia Tech defender Noe Uwimana.
Lambe led the Cavaliers with 20 points, posting career highs with six goals and eight assists. Dos Santos finished second on the team with 18 points, including a career-best six goals and seven assists. Uwimana, an Austin, Texas, native, contributed four goals and two assists while anchoring the Hokies’ back line.
North Carolina’s Joschi Schelb was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year, and Duke’s Enzo Panozzo took Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Virginia women’s soccer also had a strong postseason showing, with four players earning All-ACC recognition. Addison Halpern made the first team, Victoria Safradin and Pearl Cecil landed on the second team, and Ella Carter was selected to the third team.
Virginia Tech’s Anna Weir also made the third team. Helpern leads the Cavaliers with 11 goals and 27 points.
In women’s basketball, Virginia coach Aaron Roussell announced three four-star signings for the 2027-28 season: Lisa Sirgi, Neveah Roberson and Sabrina Anderson.
Sirgi, ranked No. 56 in ESPN’s SportsCenter NEXT 100, is a 6-5 forward from Tallinn, Estonia. She played in the 2025 FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket Division B and averaged 10.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.
Roberson, No. 58 in the ESPN rankings, is a 6-2 guard from Forestville, Maryland, who played at Bishop McNamara and IMG Academy and also competed for Team Takeover on the EBYL circuit. There, she averaged 10.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals in the 17U division.
Anderson, ranked No. 64, is a 5-8 guard from McLean and a three-time all-state pick at The Potomac School. She averaged 23.3 points as a junior and owns the school record for career 3-pointers with 229.
In brief, James Madison punter Patrick Rea has been nominated for the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award after helping raise funds for childhood brain cancer following the loss of his younger sister to the disease.
And Batten University’s women’s volleyball team moved into the ODAC Tournament semifinals with a 3-1 win over Shenandoah on Tuesday. Hannah Smith led the way with 19 kills and 11 digs, and the No. 3 seed Marlins will face No. 2 seed Washington and Lee at 7 p.m. today.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech Suddenly Has A Bigger ACC Problem Than One Loss
Virginia Techs 51-28 loss to SMU was jarring enough on its own, the kind of defeat that exposes issues on both sides of the ball and leaves little room for comfort. Kevin Jennings carved up the Hokies for 350 yards and four touchdowns, and the result stood as Virginia Techs worst loss of the season in a conference race that already feels crowded and volatile.
But the bigger concern may be what the rest of the ACC is doing around them. Georgia Techs 44-17 loss to Louisville pushed the Yellow Jackets to four straight defeats, and the league continues to churn with other results and looming games that could reshape the standings again. Even NC States reported move to hire former quarterback Philip Rivers as head coach adds to the sense that the conference picture is shifting fast, and Virginia Tech cannot assume one bad night is the only problem it has to solve. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Has A Real Chance To Reset The Tone Saturday Night
With bowl eligibility already in hand, Virginia Tech gets a chance Saturday night at Lane Stadium to do more than just keep the season moving forward. The Hokies have built enough momentum to make this one feel like a chance to reset the tone, with Ethan Grunkemeyer steering the offense and Jeffrey Overton Jr. providing balance on the ground as they prepare for Stanford.
Stanford brings its own familiar pieces into the matchup, with Davis Warren directing the passing game and Micah Ford leading the run game, but this is the kind of home date Virginia Tech should expect to control. ESPNs Football Power Index has the Hokies favored, and what happens under the lights will say plenty about whether they can turn a solid season checkpoint into something that feels like a stronger finish. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Week Just Raised The Stakes For Oregon Recruiting
Oregons upcoming game against Michigan is shaping up to be more than just a marquee matchup on the field. The Ducks are expected to host a strong group of recruiting visitors, and among the names to watch is four-star running back JP Jones-Priest, a verbal commit to Virginia Tech who has stayed in contact with Oregon and is anticipated to be in Eugene for the game.
For Oregon, the timing matters. The Ducks have a young backfield and are already thinking ahead to the 2027 season, so adding depth at running back remains a priority. A visit like this does not settle anything by itself, but it does give Oregon a chance to make a serious impression as the recruiting race around its 2027 class starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]