Virginia Tech’s offense is about to get its first real test of the James Franklin era, and a few names already stand out before fall camp even opens. The Hokies haven’t settled every job yet, but the roster has enough new faces and returning talent to make the next few weeks worth watching closely.
At the top of the list is quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, the player who has generated the most buzz heading into camp. Virginia Tech still hasn’t officially handed him the job, which fits Franklin’s approach to competition, but Grunkemeyer didn’t transfer to Blacksburg to wait around.
As a redshirt freshman last fall, he stepped in at Penn State after Franklin was fired and ended up starting the final seven games. Over that stretch, he completed 69% of his passes for 1,339 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions, then helped PSU close with four straight wins, capped by a bowl victory over Clemson.
He brings a pocket-based style that’s a little different from what Hokies fans have been used to, and it will be interesting to see how soon Virginia Tech makes it official.
The backfield also has a player who can change the tone of an offense in a hurry: Jeffrey Overton Jr. Marcellous Hawkins is the starter, and Bill Davis will be part of the rotation, but Overton is expected to have a major role.
The redshirt freshman gives the Hokies a different kind of threat, the sort of runner who can turn a routine carry into a big play. He flashed that late last season, carried that momentum into spring ball, and appears to have added some size.
Virginia Tech’s depth at running back looks strong, and Overton is one of the reasons why.
Wide receiver is another spot with plenty of intrigue, and Brodie Adams is the name that jumps off the page. Que’Sean Brown and Ayden Greene are expected to be the top two targets, which leaves the WR3 conversation wide open.
Adams, a top recruit in 2024, has been slowed by injuries, but he’s healthy now. At 6-foot-0 and 192 pounds, the Virginia Beach native has the kind of talent that could make him a WR1.
The Hokies don’t need that from him right away, but they do need to see real progress starting in camp. He’s one of the receivers worth tracking closely.
Tight end might be the deepest and most interesting position on the offense after Ty Howle’s arrival as offensive coordinator. Howle brought Luke Reynolds and Matt Henderson with him from Penn State, while Benji Gosnell returned along with Ja’Ricous Hairson and Harrison Saint Germain.
Reynolds and Gosnell look like co-No. 1 options, and Reynolds has the kind of upside that has already drawn preseason attention as an All-ACC selection. His connection with Grunkemeyer only adds to the appeal.
Don’t be surprised if Reynolds ends up leading Virginia Tech in targets and receptions in 2026, though Gosnell should be heavily involved as well.
Up front, Logan Howland is another player who could end up being more important than some preseason depth charts suggest. Some of those charts leave him out of the starting five, but that doesn’t feel right.
If healthy, Howland should be Virginia Tech’s left tackle in 2026. The Oklahoma transfer has starting experience with the Sooners, and injuries limited him last season.
He has two years of eligibility left, and the ideal setup would have him locking down the blind side while Johnny Garrett moves inside to guard or even over to right tackle. With a quarterback who works from the pocket, protecting the edge matters even more, and Howland has the chance to be that kind of anchor.
In a busy offseason full of additions, he may be the one flying most under the radar.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech May Finally Have The Breakout Back Fans Wanted
Jeffrey Overton Jr. spent most of 2025 trying to get back to where Virginia Tech hoped he would be, and the early signs were encouraging enough to make the Hokies pay attention. The running back tore his ACL in December 2024, missed most of the season and then returned late, but in those final four games he showed the kind of burst and balance that can change a backfield conversation in a hurry.
Spring practice only added to the optimism, with Overton looking more physically ready after the long rehab process and handling himself well in limited work. The real test comes in 2026, when Virginia Tech expects to have him available from the start, beginning Sept. 5 against VMI, and the Hokies will find out whether the flashes from late last year were the start of something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech May Have Found The Tight End Fans Wanted
Ty Howles move from Penn State to Virginia Tech brought a familiar offensive voice to Blacksburg, and it also opened the door for a tight end with real pedigree to follow him into the Hokies plans. Luke Reynolds arrives with the kind of rsum that suggests he can be more than just a complementary piece, giving Virginia Tech a player whose early college experience already hinted at a bigger role ahead.
Reynolds was productive right away in Happy Valley and kept building on that momentum as a sophomore, enough to make him one of the more intriguing additions on Virginia Techs roster for 2026. The Hokies have been searching for a tight end who can change the shape of the passing game, and Reynolds looks like the sort of player who could help answer that need, even if the full picture of how he fits alongside the rest of the offense is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Still Has One Problem That Could Ruin This Rebuild
Virginia Tech has spent the offseason trying to patch together a roster that looked far too thin after a 3-9 finish in 2025, leaning hard on the transfer portal and recruiting to speed up the rebuild. The Hokies brought in experienced help up front from Oklahoma and Ohio State, and they are also counting on Penn State transfer Ethan Grunkemeyer to bring more steadiness at quarterback than they had a year ago.
The concern, though, is whether the offensive line can actually hold together long enough to make all of that matter. Injuries have already complicated the picture, and the group still lacks the kind of time together that usually turns a collection of newcomers into a reliable unit. For a team trying to climb back into respectability in 2026, that could end up being the one issue that determines whether the rebuild starts to take shape or stalls before it really gets going. [Read more 🡒]