Virginia Tech still has not named its starting quarterback, and James Franklin isn’t budging.
With fall camp winding down, the Hokies’ quarterback picture remains unresolved even though Penn State transfer Ethan Grunkemeyer came into camp as the clear favorite. Grunkemeyer was viewed as the likely starter after showing real promise late last season when he was forced into action for Drew Allar, and he’s the only quarterback on Virginia Tech’s roster who has started a game at the power-four level. He also brings what the source describes as real NFL upside.
Franklin was asked about the competition again after Friday’s practice, and he stuck with the same line he gave earlier in camp. He did not name a starter, and he said that decision will come before Virginia Tech opens against VMI.
"It's still a competition, and we've still got a lot of work to do between now and our first game," Franklin said.
That approach fits with what Franklin said in the spring, when he explained why he likes to hold off on settling the job. In his view, keeping the battle alive helps everyone stay engaged, even after a decision is made.
"I just think that's in everybody's best interest. Once you make that decision, you say that the second team and the third team guys should still be preparing like the starter, but it usually takes some time to get over that and then move on.
So I'd like to keep it alive as long as we possibly can, not just at the quarterback position, but really in every position. And the reality is, it's not like I have to say something, right?
The guys see it, right? They kind of have an idea.
I want multiple quarterbacks to take on a leadership role, but the players are going to listen to who they believe in, who they trust and who they respect. So it's not like we got to crown somebody for everybody to see it and feel it.
The players got a pretty good idea."
Even with the public silence, Grunkemeyer still feels like the likely answer. He has the most upside, familiarity with the staff, and experience against top-level competition. Last season, he started and had to deal with two of the best defenses in the country, Indiana and Ohio State.
And while Franklin has kept the door open, there’s a good chance the competition lasts all the way to the opener in two weeks. The source also notes that multiple quarterbacks could play against VMI, with Grunkemeyer, Bryce Baker, Kelden Ryan, and Troy Huhn all potential options to take snaps.
Quarterback isn’t the only issue on the roster, especially with the offensive line still a concern, so Virginia Tech will need strong play at the position if it wants to hit its ceiling. That ceiling, as the source puts it, could include an ACC Championship appearance.
It’s one of the biggest quarterback battles in the ACC, and maybe the country, and all eyes are on what Virginia Tech decides. For now, the belief remains the same: Grunkemeyer is still the name to watch.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech's Climb Back May Depend On These Under-The-Radar Camp Battles
Virginia Techs preseason buzz has centered on the bigger names, but the more interesting story in Blacksburg may be the players trying to force their way into the conversation. Ethan Grunkemeyer is getting attention at quarterback and Luke Reynolds has landed on the Mackey Award watch list, yet the Hokies climb back in 2026 could hinge just as much on a few under-the-radar camp battles and the roster spots won by players who have not produced much at the college level yet.
Among the names worth watching are redshirt sophomore wide receiver Wiggins, cornerback Clarke and true freshman wide receiver QueSean Brown, all of whom could carve out real roles if camp goes their way. Luke Stuewe is another to keep in mind as a possible mover up the depth chart, and for Virginia Tech, the value of that kind of emergence is obvious: when a team is trying to rebuild momentum, the difference often comes from the players who make themselves impossible to ignore in August. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Still Has One Crucial Receiver Battle To Settle
Virginia Techs fall camp has already clarified part of the receiver picture, with Ayden Greene and QueSean Brown emerging as the established top options. Beyond that, though, the Hokies still have some sorting to do, and the wideout competition has become one of the more closely watched parts of camp as the offense gets ready for a season led by new quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.
The next layer is where things get interesting, because Marlion Jackson, Chanz Wiggins, Takye Heath and Davion Brown are all in the mix for additional starting roles. No one has locked down the third receiver spot yet, which leaves the staff with a meaningful decision still ahead as it continues to evaluate who fits best alongside the top two. [Read more 🡒]
James Franklin Has Virginia Tech Fans Waiting On One Big Answer
James Franklins first fall camp at Virginia Tech has been built around one simple message: nothing is being handed out. With a roster packed with transfers and plenty of talent, the Hokies new head coach has kept the focus squarely on competition, refusing to lock in starters as he works to set a standard for how this team will operate when the season begins. Even the quarterback job remains open, a sign that Franklin wants every spot earned before the opener arrives.
It is a deliberate stance for a program trying to establish a new identity quickly, and Franklin has made clear he wants the Hokies to function as a process-driven, complementary team across every phase. That kind of approach can create urgency, but it also leaves one of the biggest questions in camp hanging over everything else, with players still fighting to prove they belong in the first wave when Virginia Tech takes the field for real. [Read more 🡒]