Virginia Tech’s defensive line is loaded with bodies, proven production, and enough upside to make fall camp one of the more interesting position battles on the roster.
The Hokies can already lean on Kemari Copeland, an All-ACC performer who anchors the group inside after posting 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season. Elhadj Fall also gives them a steady interior presence, coming off a 2025 season with 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while Emmett Laws flashed in a bigger role.
That core gives Virginia Tech a real foundation. The bigger question is whether the rest of the line can turn that into consistent pressure.
The most unsettled spot is at defensive end, where one side looks more defined than the other. Aycen Stevens created plenty of momentum during spring practice and appears to be the front-runner for one starting job. The other edge spot is still up for grabs, and that’s where fall camp should start sorting things out.
Javion Hilson brings the kind of ceiling that turns heads. The former five-star recruit arrived from Missouri, and his talent gives him a real shot to carve out a major role.
Mylachi Williams also enters the mix with familiarity in James Franklin’s system after transferring from Penn State, while Jason Abbey has quietly built a strong case as one of the more seasoned returners on the roster, having played in 29 career games. Virginia Tech needs somebody on the edge who can win one-on-one matchups with regularity, and camp will be the first real test of who can do that.
The Hokies also went into the portal to add depth, but these aren’t just warm bodies. Several of the newcomers could be part of the rotation right away. Samuel Okunlola is the headliner after productive stretches at Pitt and Colorado, and Virginia Tech is hoping he can get back to that disruptive form after an injury-shortened 2025 season.
Eric Mensah, Randy Adirika, Cortez Harris and Daniel Jennings all arrive from major programs with a chance to make an immediate push. Williams, Adirika, Harris and Jennings came from Penn State, while Mensah transferred from Ohio State. None of them bring long college résumés, but each was a highly regarded recruit with Power Four talent.
That’s what makes this group so compelling. Virginia Tech doesn’t just have depth; it has competition.
If the transfers settle in quickly and the edge rush comes along, the Hokies could have one of the ACC’s most complete defensive fronts. If not, opponents may be able to focus on Copeland inside and make life harder for the entire unit.
In Other News...
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 🡒]