Virginia Tech is past its scheduled ACC Kickoff stretch, and the conversation now turns to the part of the calendar Hokies fans care about most: who lines up where when the season opens. With that in mind, here’s how the projected preseason 2026 two-deep looks on both sides of the ball.
At quarterback, the pecking order appears unchanged. Grunkemeyer-Baker-Kelden Ryan-Troy Huhn still looks like the clean 1-2-3-4, and Grunkemeyer should be the guy at the top when fall arrives. He threw for 136 yards in the spring game, and nothing since then has really shifted the picture.
Running back feels just as settled at the top, even if the battle behind the lead pair is worth watching. Hawkins led the team with 749 rushing yards in 2025, while Overton finished strong with 146 rushing yards over the final four games of 2025.
The real question is who claims the third-most reps. Right now, that looks like a fight between incumbent Tyler Mason and Louisiana transfer Bill Davis.
Davis gets the slight nod for now because of his previous production, though Mason has the benefit of being more familiar with Virginia Tech.
Receiver is where the first real change shows up from the spring chart. Tyseer Denmark was in the starting group after posting four catches for 38 yards in the Hokies’ spring game on April 18, but Takye Heath is back in the starting rotation after opening last season there. Heath had 200 receiving yards last year, and even with the drop issues that have followed him in college, he still looks like a useful complement to Greene and Brown in the room’s top two spots, in some order.
Tight end remains steady, and the usage there may help explain why. Virginia Tech’s multiple-tight-end looks should keep Ja'Ricous Hairston involved, even if Reynolds seems like the clear No. 1 after leading all targets with 69 receiving yards on five catches in the spring game. Gosnell has been the mainstay starter before that, and Hairston still projects to have a meaningful role.
Up front, the offensive line still comes with a lot of uncertainty, but the broad shape hasn’t changed. Howland, the Oklahoma transfer, should start at left tackle, and the rest of the unit looks similar to last season. Terry and Eziuka have a shot to crack the top six or seven, while Meadows and Garrett look like depth pieces for now.
On the defensive line, the spring game offered a little more clarity. Williams and Mensah combined for 2.5 sacks in that game, and both should be part of a two-deep that has to account for the injury to tackle Emmett Laws, though the extent of that injury is still unknown.
Stevens still holds the Lunch Pail, which speaks to how far he’s come and suggests a starting job could be in play. Copeland, named Preseason All-ACC First Team by Phil Steele, is the headliner here.
Linebacker brings a lot of experience. Wylie and Santiago are both redshirt seniors, Spencer is a true senior, and Chambers adds a different kind of energy after breaking through as a true freshman with 44 tackles last season.
It’s a group built on veteran presence, with Chambers offering the chance for another step forward in 2026. The one thing still missing is big statistical production from the position.
At corner, White briefly gave the staff a scare during the spring game, but he later posted on X that he was "all good," so there’s no real reason to think he won’t be in the starting lineup to begin the season. The bigger issue for Brent Pry’s defense is how often it uses a true nickelback and how often the star spot comes back as a regular part of the scheme.
Brown-Murray looks capable of handling either outside corner or nickel, Clarke stood out in the spring game by leading all players with seven tackles, including six solo stops, and Chadwick, who missed that game, still projects into the two-deep. Williams has also stayed in the rotation and should keep getting meaningful snaps.
Safety may be the most interesting puzzle on the defense because of Brennan Johnson’s fit. He can play multiple spots, but most of his college work has come at free safety, where Virginia Tech already has plenty of depth.
PFF shows Johnson with 72 snaps at free safety, 35 in the box and 13 in the slot. Robinson has mostly worked in the box with 188 snaps, plus 59 in the slot and 28 at free safety.
Flowers has been the most versatile of the group, splitting time between the box with 219 snaps and free safety with 315. Beyond Johnson’s role, the top of the depth chart looks pretty much set.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech Still Has One Massive Quarterback Decision Looming
Virginia Techs quarterback picture is still taking shape as the program looks ahead to the 2026-27 season, and Ethan Grunkemeyer has emerged as the leading candidate to take control of the offense. The transfer brings starting experience with him, and his rsum gives the Hokies a proven option as they try to settle the most important spot on the field.
Even so, the room is not short on competition. Bryce Baker, the North Carolina transfer, is positioned to push for the job, while Troy Huhn turned heads in spring practice and flashed enough to keep the race interesting. For now, Virginia Tech has a real battle on its hands, and the final answer may not come until later in fall camp. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Heads Into LSU With A Quarterback Decision Still Looming
With Clemson set to open against LSU, the Tigers still have not settled the most important job on the field. Dabo Swinney is letting the quarterback competition between Christopher Vizzina and true freshman Tait Reynolds play out a little longer, a sign that the staff is comfortable waiting rather than forcing an early answer. Swinney has also made clear Clemson did not chase the transfer portal for a quick fix, preferring to lean on the quarterbacks already in the building.
For Virginia Tech, the ripple effects of that kind of roster patience are part of the larger ACC picture. James Franklin said the Hokies have made major offseason progress and pointed to a bigger, stronger, faster, deeper team, while also keeping Brent Pry in place as defensive coordinator to smooth the transition. Louisville, meanwhile, is preparing for a difficult schedule with Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz expected to take over at quarterback, giving the league a few more unknowns as camp decisions start to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]