Virginia Tech’s 2026 roster is built with mass in mind.
The Hokies have 30 players who weigh 300 pounds or more, a number that jumps out before anyone even starts talking about depth charts or scheme. That kind of size does not guarantee anything by itself, but it does signal a clear direction for James Franklin’s program.
Franklin brought Chuck Losey with him from Penn State to handle the strength side of the operation, and Losey’s official title is the Assistant Athletics Director for Athletic Performance - Football. In practice, he is the head of Virginia Tech’s strength and conditioning, and his background is part of what makes the Hokies’ roster shape worth noticing.
Penn State’s recent track record with NFL talent is part of the picture here, too. The source points to players there who checked in at 260 pounds and still ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds. Virginia Tech is not being projected into that exact lane, and nobody is claiming the Hokies’ linemen will be flying through the 40 in 4.4 seconds or less.
Still, the size profile matters. A 230-pound edge rusher can be a useful weapon in passing situations, especially when he’s fresh and coming off the bench on third down. But if that kind of body type has to live on the field snap after snap, the run defense can pay for it.
That is why the Hokies’ weight distribution stands out. However many games Virginia Tech wins in 2026, the one thing this roster seems designed to avoid is getting shoved around.
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Virginia Tech Has A Preseason Honor Fans Can't Fully Celebrate
Virginia Techs offseason recognition package came with a reminder that preseason honors only tell part of the story. Eleven Hokies landed on the American Bowl Top 1000 Preseason Watch List for NFL Draft-eligible seniors, a sign that the roster has plenty of players drawing early attention as the 2026 season approaches. It is the kind of list that can reflect both depth and upside, especially for a program trying to turn individual buzz into something more meaningful once games start to count.
Still, not every name on that list is in the same place heading into September. Garrett is dealing with a long-term injury suffered before the season, and the timeline remains unclear, which leaves some of that preseason optimism hanging in the balance. Virginia Tech opens its 2026 schedule against VMI on Sept. 5, and by then the Hokies will have a better sense of how much of that preseason acclaim can translate onto the field. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Techs Opener Puts Brent Prys Rebuilt Defense On Notice
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Kemari Copeland and transfer edge Javion Hilson are among the names expected to shape that effort, with both carrying real weight in the push to be more disruptive up front. The matchup should give Virginia Tech a chance to show it can set the tone early before the schedule toughens, but the real question is whether the defense looks more like a unit still searching or one ready to make opponents feel the difference right away. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech's New Offense Faces One Early Test Fans Will Feel
Virginia Tech opens the 2025 season against VMI with plenty of curiosity wrapped around a new offensive setup under head coach James Franklin and coordinator Ty Howle. The Hokies are trying to move past a passing game that ranked 125th nationally a year ago, and the first game offers a clean first look at how much different the attack can look once the ball is snapped for real. Ethan Grunkemeyer is expected to be the quarterback in charge, while Marcellous Hawkins gives the Hokies a run game they can lean on as the transition begins.
Luke Reynolds is another name worth watching as this offense takes shape, because Howles system should give him a more prominent role than simply lining up as an extra blocker. Against VMI, Virginia Tech will not just be trying to win a season opener, it will be trying to show whether the new structure can create more balance and more answers through the air. The opener will not settle every question, but it should tell Hokies fans a lot about where this offense is headed. [Read more 🡒]