Virginia Tech’s tight end room is suddenly one of the more interesting parts of the 2026 roster, and not just because of the depth. The bigger question is whether the Hokies will actually use it.
This group has enough bodies to matter now, but the long-term picture is already flashing some warning signs. There are three Senior Day walkers in the mix, two starters for 2026, and three more Senior Day candidates for 2027.
That means Virginia Tech will have to keep working the portal and the high school ranks to avoid a drop-off later on. The staff has already started adding pieces, even moving linebacker/STAR Brody Jones to offense to help thicken the room.
For 2026, though, the top end is real. The Hokies have three tight ends who look like starting-caliber options, plus a handful of backups who can help on special teams.
There’s also one true freshman on the roster. The Penn State pipeline shows up in a noticeable way here, with multiple additions from that program.
Benji Gosnell looks like the safest bet to start. He’s entering his final season in Blacksburg, and after what happened last year, he should get a better chance to show what he can do.
In 2024, Gosnell produced like a real weapon, catching 32 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged nearly 11 yards per catch and also finished the 2023 season with a touchdown in the Military Bowl against Tulane.
Last season was a different story: he started all 12 games but caught only 12 passes for 86 yards, spending far more time as extra protection than as a receiving threat.
That’s why the new offensive coordinator has to change the way this position is used. The tight ends need to be part of the passing game again, not just emergency blockers when the offense is in trouble.
Ja’Ricous Hairston is another name to watch. He worked his way into a bigger role last season after spending 2023 and 2024 building experience and contributing on special teams.
In 12 games, he put up 112 receiving yards and scored three touchdowns, including one against Vanderbilt and two against Georgia Tech. Hairston has the kind of quick feet and reliable hands that fit crossing routes, seam work, and digs underneath coverage.
He may not be locked into a starting job every week, but he has a strong case to be on the field often.
Then there’s Luke Reynolds, the Penn State transfer who brings a different kind of juice. He’s listed at 6-4, 250 pounds, but the profile reads like a pass-catching mismatch.
Reynolds played in all 13 of Penn State’s games and caught 26 passes for 257 yards. He also had four starts and appeared in 16 games for the Nittany Lions in 2024.
His resume is strong enough that he’s already on the John Mackey Watch List, and he should be in the starting conversation depending on the formation and the call.
Behind those three, Virginia Tech has some useful depth. Harrison Saint Germain has appeared in 27 games since his freshman year and has one start to his name.
Most of his value has come as a blocker, especially while the offense around him has struggled. Cole Reemsnyder is another senior in the room.
Brody Jones adds flexibility after his move from defense. Matt Henderson gives the Hokies another Penn State import and is a redshirt freshman with four years of eligibility left.
Pierce Petersohn is the true freshman in the group, arriving from Minnesota.
The overall shape of the room is clear: there’s talent here, and there’s enough of it to matter in 2026. The real test is whether Virginia Tech finally treats the tight end position like an actual weapon instead of just another extension of the offensive line.
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