Virginia Tech came into the season with real questions up front, and for good reason. The two-deep was built mostly from players who had already spent time in the program, and that group was part of an offensive line that hadn’t been a strength. Then projected starting tackle Johnny Garrett went down with an injury, and the concerns only grew.
James Franklin didn’t wait around for the problem to solve itself. The new head coach attacked the 2026 recruiting class with the offensive line in mind, then kept adding pieces through the transfer portal. Ohio State transfer Justin Terry and Oklahoma transfer Logan Howland were part of that effort to rebuild the room.
Three weeks into the 2026 season, Virginia Tech is 3-0, and the early results have been encouraging. The schedule hasn’t been brutal, but that can be said for plenty of teams around college football.
The Hokies did deliver a convincing win at Maryland, ending a 15-game non-conference road losing streak against Power Four opponents. More than that, they’re taking care of the teams they’re supposed to beat - and doing it by a wide margin.
The line is a big reason why. Even with some questions about run blocking, Virginia Tech held up well against Maryland’s big, talented defensive front last week. According to Pro Football Network’s advanced metrics, the Hokies’ offensive line ranks fifth in college football through three weeks.
That’s a strong early sign, even if the group is likely to face tougher tests as the season moves along. It also makes sense that the unit should keep getting better as the reps pile up. Offensive line play is built on timing and trust, and Virginia Tech is still developing both.
There is, though, one major concern hanging over the unit: Terry’s health. The redshirt sophomore transfer has been one of the early bright spots for the Hokies, but he was helped off the field Saturday against Maryland with a lower-leg injury. He later returned to the sideline on crutches.
Franklin was asked about Terry on Monday, but he said he wouldn’t go into detail until he had spoken with him. That was not a reassuring answer. In Terry’s place, Howland moved to left tackle and played well.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech's Transfer Surge Is Fueling A Start Fans Can't Ignore
Saturday night in College Park offered another sign that Virginia Techs early-season turnaround has real substance behind it. The Hokies beat Maryland to move to 3-0, and the win was their first on the road under coach James Franklin, with a pair of Penn State transfers driving much of the offense. Ethan Grunkemeyer piled up 314 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Luke Reynolds caught 12 passes for 107 yards and a score as the passing game kept Maryland under pressure.
The transfer footprint went well beyond the box score, too. A total of 18 transfers took part, and safety DQ Smith handled his biggest workload of the season as Virginia Tech kept leaning on newcomers in a game that asked plenty of them. For a team still trying to define its ceiling, the blend of immediate production and growing roles from the transfer class is becoming impossible to overlook, even before the tougher tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Is Earning The Kind Of Respect Hokies Fans Wanted
Boston College coach Bill OBrien spent part of his media session doing what opponents often do when Virginia Tech starts looking legitimate: acknowledging the parts that make the Hokies hard to prepare for. He pointed to receiver Luke Reynolds blocking work and recent play, then moved quickly to the bigger picture, noting Virginia Techs rushing attack and the kind of offensive line depth that tends to travel well in conference play.
The respect didnt stop at the roster. OBrien also reflected on his past coaching relationship with Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin and praised Franklins career, a reminder that the Hokies are drawing attention not just for what they do on Saturdays, but for how theyre being discussed by opposing staffs during the week. For Virginia Tech fans, its the kind of tone theyve been waiting to hear, even if the real test is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Ethan Grunkemeyer Faces Virginia Techs Biggest ACC Question Yet
Ethan Grunkemeyer has given Virginia Tech exactly the kind of opening it wanted from its new starting quarterback. Through three games, he has been sharp, efficient and careful with the ball, completing 79 of 101 passes for 865 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions while helping the Hokies roll to a 3-0 nonconference start.
Now the calendar gets more serious. As Virginia Tech prepares to open ACC play against Boston College, Grunkemeyer finds himself measuring against the leagues other early quarterback standouts, including Miamis Darian Mensah, SMUs Kevin Jennings and Louisvilles Lincoln Kienholz. The accuracy has been there and the ball security has been even better, but the next stretch will say a lot more about how far that start can carry Virginia Tech once the conference games begin. [Read more 🡒]