Virginia Tech spent the offseason acting like a program that knows exactly where it wants to go.
After a 3-9 season, the Hokies had every reason to watch the roster bleed out. Instead, they kept important pieces in place, attacked the transfer portal, and made the kind of coaching hire that can change the direction of the whole operation. That combination is why the offseason has been framed as a win in Blacksburg.
The retention piece matters more than it usually does for a team coming off a rough year. Jeffrey Overton and Marcellous Hawkins are both back, and that gives Virginia Tech what could be one of the ACC’s best running back tandems.
Ayden Greene returns at receiver, Kemari Copeland is back to anchor the defense, and there are experienced bodies returning up front on the offensive line. That core gives the Hokies something real to build around heading into 2026.
The portal haul added another layer, and tight end Luke Reynolds stands out as the most gifted name in the group. A former five-star prospect, Reynolds looked the part at Penn State, and he arrives in a system where James Franklin has already shown he can develop tight ends into NFL players like Tyler Warren and Mike Gesicki. Reynolds should be the first look for whichever quarterback wins the job, and he has the talent to put together an All-ACC season.
The quarterback situation may end up being the move that shapes everything else. Ethan Grunkemeyer got a start last season at Penn State after Drew Allar was injured, and there were encouraging signs in tough games against Indiana and Ohio State.
He has not been named the starter yet, but the expectation is that he’ll get that job in fall camp. If he reaches his All-ACC ceiling, Virginia Tech could be in Charlotte in December.
Then there’s the hire that may end up defining not just the Hokies’ offseason, but the entire national coaching cycle. James Franklin arrived after a successful run at Penn State, bringing the kind of track record Virginia Tech was chasing.
He took heat in Happy Valley for not getting over the top against teams like Michigan and Ohio State or winning a national title, but he still delivered double-digit wins on a regular basis. That kind of consistency is rare.
Franklin’s past also matters because of who he is bringing with him. Brent Pry was not a successful head coach at Virginia Tech, but he has a strong history as a college defensive coordinator, and his familiarity with Franklin should make the transition smoother. That connection could make him one of the ACC’s most important coordinator hires.
Put it all together, and Virginia Tech has given itself a real foundation. The returning talent, the portal additions, the quarterback upside, and Franklin’s arrival all point in the same direction. The turnaround may not happen as quickly as fans want, but the Hokies now have a path to becoming an annual playoff contender.
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Has James Franklin Already Found Virginia Techs Quarterback Answer
Virginia Techs quarterback room has been one of the biggest pieces of the roster reset under James Franklin, and the staff has moved quickly to add both experience and upside. Ethan Grunkemeyer arrived as part of that overhaul after a stint at Penn State, while Bryce Baker gives the Hokies another young arm to develop as Franklin puts his own stamp on the program.
Grunkemeyer brings the kind of rsum that makes him hard to ignore in a room looking for clarity. He is a former four-star recruit with Power Five experience, and last season he started seven games for Penn State after stepping into a larger role. With three years of eligibility left, he gives Virginia Tech a quarterback option that can help right away and still fit into the long view of the rebuild. [Read more 🡒]
James Franklin Faces An Early Test With Virginia Tech Receivers
As Virginia Tech moves through its first offseason under James Franklin, the wide receiver room is one of the clearest places to watch how quickly the new staff can settle things. Greene and Brown give the Hokies a proven starting point, both bringing ACC experience and past production, but the group behind them is still sorting itself out as the 2026 season approaches.
That makes the next few months important for more than just depth chart order. Takye Heath, Tyseer Denmark and Marlion Jackson are among the names in the mix for the next role, while Virginia Tech could also lean more on 12-personnel looks if the competition stays open. Add in Adams and Wiggins returning as redshirt sophomores after injuries, and the opener against VMI on Sept. 5 could offer the first real glimpse of how Franklin wants this passing game to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
What Could Derail Virginia Techs Push Back To Charlotte
Virginia Techs path back toward Charlotte starts with a familiar offseason problem: sorting through change fast enough to stay in the ACC race. James Franklin takes over in his first year with a roster that has both turnover and promise, and the Hokies will need the new pieces to mesh quickly while the returning core gives the program a steadier floor than it had a year ago.
The pressure points are easy to spot. Up front, the defense has to replace veteran production, and on offense the Hokies are asking new faces to settle in around quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer and Duke transfer QueSean Brown. Even before the league schedule tightens, Virginia Tech is staring at a stretch that will test whether this group is built to climb or merely to compete, and the answer may decide whether the Hokies can make a real push back to the championship game. [Read more 🡒]