Virginia Tech’s offseason recognition keeps piling up, and this latest nod stretches across the roster. Ten Hokies were included on the Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List, giving the program another broad showing in a pool that is not limited by conference.
The group includes Brown, Copeland, Hawkins, Spencer and Love, who were unanimous selections across all three teams. Brown-Murray also made the East-West Watch List and Athlon Sports’ preseason All-ACC team, while defensive tackle Elhadj Fall was picked by Steele and the East-West Watch List.
Long snapper Christian Epling and offensive lineman Layth Ghannam were also recognized on Phil Steele’s preseason All-ACC list. Athlon Sports also put center Kyle Altuner on its list; he is set to be a redshirt sophomore in the 2026 season after starting every game under center for Virginia Tech in 2025.
Several of the names on the watch list are already carrying clear résumés. Copeland posted seven tackles for loss and 4.5 tackles for loss last season, highlighted by a three-sack performance against Cal.
He earned All-ACC Third Team honors in 2025 and remains the only All-ACC returnee. Brown, meanwhile, arrived with production already on the page after finishing with 846 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore at Duke, including 178 yards against Arizona State in the Sun Bowl.
Reynolds brings a different kind of track record after two seasons at Penn State, where he totaled 368 receiving yards and one touchdown. He also led the Hokies with 69 receiving yards in the spring game on April 18.
Gosnell, now a redshirt senior, has started every game over the past two seasons for Virginia Tech. In 2025, he had 86 receiving yards on 12 catches, while his best year came the season before, when he put up 341 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 32 receptions.
Hawkins handled the lead role in the backfield last season and finished with a team-best 749 rushing yards. His biggest outings came against California, when he ran for 167 yards, and Florida State, when he added 101.
On defense, Fall is heading into his second year at Virginia Tech after three seasons at Georgia Southern. He started six games and finished with 25 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, along with a 63.0 defensive grade on PFF.
Brown-Murray is also in his second season with the Hokies after spending three years at East Carolina. He had 63 tackles during his time with the Pirates, then started every game in 2025 and recorded 39 tackles, 29 of them unassisted, along with two tackles for loss, five pass breakups and an interception.
Love’s place on the list comes after a steady career that has already earned him All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition in 2023 and 2024. He has never missed a PAT in college, has made two field goals from 50 yards or longer, and went 15-for-20 last season.
Spencer delivered a team-high 67 tackles, including 31 unassisted stops and nine tackles for loss, and finished with a 76.2 PFF grade against the run. His overall grade was 58.4, which ranked No. 32 out of 47.
White’s numbers also stand out. PFF ranked him as the No. 13 cornerback in the FBS by defensive grades after he finished with an 87.4 mark. His coverage grade was 86.8, good for No. 21 of 878, and his run defense grade was 88.2, which ranked No. 21 of 876.
Virginia Tech opens the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, when it hosts VMI at Lane Stadium. The game will be James Franklin’s first as head coach of the Hokies, and it is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
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Virginia Techs Defensive Front Has One Camp Battle Fans Need To Watch
Virginia Techs defensive line looks far more settled inside than it does on the edge heading into the 2026 season. Kemari Copeland is back as an All-ACC presence, and the Hokies also brought in experienced transfers from Power Four programs, giving the front a deeper and more mature feel than it had a year ago. The interior should have a clear identity, which gives the staff a chance to focus its attention on where the real uncertainty lives.
The defensive end spots are where camp will get interesting, with Aycen Stevens, Javion Hilson and Mylachi Williams all in the mix for starting roles. Virginia Tech needs that group to turn potential into steady pass-rush pressure, because the whole front becomes more dangerous if the edges can complement what the interior already offers. There are enough bodies and enough experience to make this a legitimate competition, and the Hokies will be watching closely to see who separates when the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]
Which Virginia Tech Transfers Must Deliver Right Away For James Franklin
James Franklins first fall camp at Virginia Tech comes with the usual new-coach curiosity, but the transfer class will be one of the first things worth watching. The Hokies brought in help at quarterback, receiver, tight end, offensive line, edge and the secondary, and those additions are expected to be part of the backbone as Franklin and his staff try to settle the roster quickly and give the offense and defense some much-needed structure.
The challenge is that not every newcomer is arriving in the same spot, and Virginia Tech needs several of them to look ready from the start. Some are being asked to stabilize position groups that still have questions, while others are expected to bring proven production from their previous stops and translate it into immediate impact in Blacksburg. How quickly that happens will go a long way toward shaping the tone of camp and, eventually, the Hokies season. [Read more 🡒]