Virginia Tech’s defense enters 2026 with a different look, but the Hokies do have some real building blocks in place under Brent Pry, who is now running the unit himself. The front four and the secondary both bring back key pieces, and that gives this group a chance to be far better than what Virginia Tech put on the field during last year’s 3-9 season.
The strongest case for optimism starts up front with Kemari Copeland. After choosing to return, he gives Virginia Tech a proven interior force and, as the source puts it, one of the ACC’s premier interior defensive linemen. That matters because a defense can look a lot different when there’s a legitimate anchor in the middle.
There’s more around him, too. Elhadj Fall is back for his second season with the Hokies, Mizzou transfer Javion Hilson could become a factor on the edge, and Aycen Stevens looks like a breakout candidate after an encouraging spring.
Virginia Tech also has rotational options in Eric Mensah, Randy Adirika, Jason Abbey and Mylachi Williams, among others. Emmett Laws could be part of that mix as well, though Pry has not been clear about his status.
That depth is a big change from a year ago. It also comes with the usual catch: a lot of new faces means some growing pains.
Even so, Sean Spencer has a strong reputation for getting the most out of his front-seven groups, and this one has enough size and athleticism to climb into the upper half of the ACC. If the edge rush comes together, the Hokies should be much better at creating negative plays.
Linebacker is the one spot that still feels unsettled. Noah Chambers is back and remains the clear leader of the group, which gives Virginia Tech an experienced player who can handle every responsibility in Pry’s scheme.
But after him, there are plenty of questions. The Hokies lost several contributors in the offseason and will need younger players and newcomers to take on meaningful snaps.
There is upside here, and Chambers’ presence should keep the room steady. Still, compared with the defensive line and the secondary, this is the least proven position group on the defense heading into fall camp. Until someone consistently steps up next to Chambers and Spencer, it’s hard to call this one of the ACC’s stronger linebacker units.
The secondary may end up being the most dependable part of the defense. Quentin Reddish’s return gives Virginia Tech an experienced safety and a natural fit for Pry’s system. Tyson Flowers is back as well, and the cornerback room has been reinforced by both portal additions and returning players, with Jaquez White standing out as one of the newcomers.
The challenge there is chemistry. Virginia Tech has added talent, length and versatility, but a lot of these players still need live-game reps together.
Even so, the ingredients are there for this group to become one of the ACC’s more reliable backfields. With Pry’s background on defense, steady improvement across the season would not be a surprise.
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One analyst has already slotted him eighth among ACC quarterbacks for 2026, a placement that should spark plenty of debate among Hokies fans who see both the promise and the uncertainty in his profile. The appeal is obvious: he knows the staff, he has already handled pressure in a tough spot, and Virginia Tech believes he can be the answer at the position. The question now is how quickly that potential turns into production once the spotlight shifts to the ACC. [Read more 🡒]
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The schedule will do plenty to sort that out, especially once September gives way to the games that tend to define how Virginia Tech is viewed in the ACC race. The rivalry date with Virginia looms large again after last seasons lopsided loss in Charlottesville, and home-field advantage only matters if the Hokies play like a team ready to carry expectations instead of chase them. If this group is going to justify the buzz, it will have to do it against the opponents that matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rhule Has Nebraska Back In A Conversation Fans Missed
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For Virginia Tech, the idea is tied to a fresh start after last seasons coaching change, with the Hokies trying to rebuild their way back into relevance while others around them chase the same kind of leap. Tennessee is the only one of the three to have already reached the College Football Playoff, and that history is part of why a viewers speculative take about all three getting there in the same season has enough juice to keep people talking, even if the path for each program looks very different. [Read more 🡒]