When Virginia Tech starts sorting out its 2026 depth chart, the spotlight will naturally land on the headline names. Ethan Grunkemeyer, Luke Reynolds and Kemari Copeland figure to draw plenty of attention.
But the real movement on a roster often happens a few layers down. That’s where the Hokies can find the players who turn a solid team into something more.
Under James Franklin, Virginia Tech’s roster has been reshaped enough to open the door for younger pieces and overlooked contributors to push for real snaps. A few of them are positioned to crack the two-deep in 2026.
One of the most interesting names is receiver Wiggins. Virginia Tech has been hunting for dependable playmakers at wideout for several seasons, and the 6-foot-3 target brings the kind of size the Hokies have been missing on the outside. Ayden Greene is expected to be one of the team’s top receiving threats, but Wiggins has the physical traits to work his way into a meaningful role.
His path is helped by how the rest of the offense could force defenses to spread their attention. Luke Reynolds can create mismatches at tight end, and Ethan Grunkemeyer gives the quarterback spot a steadier feel.
That means opponents can’t just crowd one area and dare Virginia Tech to beat them somewhere else. The Hokies’ receiver pecking order appears to start with Que'Sean Brown and Greene in some order, but what comes after that is less settled.
That uncertainty gives Wiggins a real opening.
Denmark is another young receiver who could make noise in a crowded room. The former four-star recruit arrived in Blacksburg with plenty of talent, and after spending his first year adjusting to college football, 2026 looks like a chance to take a jump. With Greene and Que'Sean Brown expected to lead the position group, Denmark will have to earn everything he gets, but his athletic ability gives him a shot.
He already gave a glimpse of what he can do in the spring, when he caught four passes for 38 yards in the Hokies’ spring game. That showed a player who can separate and do damage in space.
The issue now is consistency. If Denmark keeps developing as a route runner and becomes more reliable in the passing game, he could climb into the two-deep and become one of the more intriguing young weapons on the roster.
On the defensive side, Reddish may be the clearest case of a player who was already building momentum before an injury interrupted everything. The secondary heads into 2026 with a blend of experience and upside, and another year in the system could put him in a strong position.
Reddish was starting to establish himself as an important part of Virginia Tech’s defense before a season-ending shoulder injury ended his 2025 run. In the first three games, he piled up 15 tackles.
Tyson Flowers brings stability after starting all 12 games last season and finishing with 49 tackles, two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. Still, the Hokies need another safety who can make plays next to him, and Reddish showed before the injury that he can be that guy. He has the range to cover and the toughness to help against the run, traits that fit Brent Pry’s system well.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech's CFP Hype Faces One Brutal Test Under James Franklin
Virginia Tech is heading into the 2026 season with a fresh look under new coach James Franklin and, most likely, a new starting quarterback in Penn State transfer Ethan Grunkemeyer. The early schedule should give the Hokies some room to settle in and build momentum, which is exactly what a program trying to reset around a big-name hire needs.
The harder part comes later, when the calendar turns into a true proving ground. ESPNs computer model has Virginia Tech with just a 7.3% shot at the 12-team College Football Playoff, and the stretch that will shape that number runs through road trips to Clemson, SMU and Miami, all of them top-25 teams in the coaches poll. Thats the kind of finishing run that can either turn preseason buzz into something real or expose just how far the Hokies still have to climb. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Reynolds Gives Virginia Tech Fans A Reason To Dream Big
Luke Reynolds already gave Virginia Tech a glimpse of what he can bring after transferring in from Penn State, and now the junior tight end has landed on the Mackey Award Watch List as one of the nations top players at the position. Reynolds spent two seasons with the Nittany Lions before arriving in Blacksburg, where he has quickly become a name to know after leading the Hokies spring game in both receiving yards and catches.
For Virginia Tech, the watch list nod is another sign that Reynolds could be a major part of the offense this fall, especially with several ACC tight ends also in the mix for national recognition. He has the production history to back it up, with 368 receiving yards and a touchdown at Penn State, but the real intrigue now is how far that momentum can carry once the games count for real. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Techs Linebacker Overhaul Just Added An Intriguing New Option
Virginia Techs linebacker room has been searching for more stability in recent seasons, and the Hokies just added a player who brings both experience and flexibility. Keon Wylie arrives from Penn State as a former three-star recruit who spent multiple seasons in the Big Ten and gives Virginia Tech another body in a position group that has struggled to find consistent production.
Wylies value goes beyond simple depth. He has worked at both inside and outside linebacker during his college career and saw the field in a larger role last season, giving the Hokies an option who should fit into a few different spots as they sort through the overhaul. The bigger question now is how quickly he settles in and how much of that versatility Virginia Tech can turn into dependable play. [Read more 🡒]