Virginia Tech fans got a jolt of optimism from an unexpected place: Joel Klatt.
Klatt, the former Colorado quarterback who became one of the most recognizable voices in college football media, had plenty to say recently about the 2026 Hokies and head coach James Franklin. In his view, Franklin and Virginia Tech fit together well, and he said Franklin “will raise the level of Virginia Tech.” Klatt also pointed to Franklin keeping former head coach Brent Pry on staff as defensive coordinator.
But the part Hokie fans will latch onto is what Klatt said about projected starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.
“Grunkemeyer played really well against Indiana, the undefeated national champ,” Klatt said. “And Penn State had them dead to rights in that game before Mendoza and Cooper go down the field and break Gus’ (Johnson) vocal cords.
But Grunkemeyer played really well, and after the game, I’m texting with Bryant Haines, in preparation for some of the future games. Bryant Haines, the defensive coordinator at Indiana, and I was like, ‘Man, credit that offensive line, they ran the ball well.’
And he texted back, ‘I was so impressed by their quarterback.’ And Grunkemeyer was obviously playing for (Drew) Allar at the time.
And now he’s leaving, and he’s going to follow James Franklin down to Virginia Tech. I got to tell you, I think the guy I respect, one of the two or three defensive coordinators I respect the most in college football, one of those would be Bryant Haines from Indiana.
When he tells me that guy is unbelievable, and he was hard to stop, that tells you something. So, Virginia Tech, stock up.”
That’s the kind of endorsement that lands. Klatt didn’t need to repeat that story unless he really believed Grunkemeyer could matter for Virginia Tech. And if Bryant Haines - one of the defensive coordinators Klatt says he respects most in college football - was impressed enough to bring Grunkemeyer up on his own, that carries weight.
For Hokies fans, the bigger picture is obvious. Virginia Tech has spent too long without a quarterback who made opposing defenses uneasy.
A quarterback defenses actually respected? That’s a different feeling entirely.
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Virginia Tech's 2026 Turnaround May Depend On These Five Players
Virginia Techs reset for 2026 is already taking shape around a handful of players who could determine how quickly the program gets back on track. With James Franklin in as the new head coach and Brent Pry returning as defensive coordinator, the Hokies have a different look on both sides of the ball, and the transfer portal has supplied some of the most important pieces. Penn State transfer quarterback Grunkemeyer is expected to step in as the starter, giving the offense an immediate focal point as the staff tries to establish a new identity.
The rest of the picture comes down to whether several returning and added contributors can become more than just depth pieces. Tight end Reynolds, defensive end Stevens, safety Reddish and receiver Greene all sit in that category, with their development and health looming as major factors in how far Virginia Tech can go. For a team trying to turn a coaching change and roster overhaul into a real rebound, those are the kinds of names that can quietly decide whether the season looks like a transition or something much better. [Read more 🡒]
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Now comes the harder part. Virginia Tech still has to show something on the field under Franklin, because a promising recruiting haul is only as steady as the season that follows it and the schools ability to hold those commitments together. For a program trying to turn momentum on the trail into actual wins, the next stretch will matter just as much as the rankings that got everyones attention in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hokies Tight End Lands In One Of College Footballs Strangest Returns
Dae'Quan Wrights football path has taken another sharp turn, this time into one of the sports stranger offseason storylines. The former Virginia Tech and Ole Miss tight end is heading to LSU for a fifth college season after getting an extra year of eligibility through a lawsuit in Louisiana, a development that keeps him in the college game after he spent the summer trying to make the jump to the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.
Wright went undrafted and later was waived, opening the door back to campus and setting up a reunion with LSU head coach Lane Kiffin. For Virginia Tech fans, it is another reminder of how fluid modern roster building has become, with eligibility rulings, transfer movement and pro opportunities all colliding at once. Wright is expected to play the 2026 season with the Tigers, leaving one more twist in a career that has already crossed multiple stops. [Read more 🡒]