Virginia Tech’s roster overhaul under James Franklin has changed the look of the depth chart, and some position groups enter fall camp in far better shape than others. Based on the current roster, projected two-deep, returning production and the transfer additions, the Hokies’ strongest rooms appear to be the ones with real proven pieces and clear upside.
At the top of the list is tight end, where Luke Reynolds and Benji Gosnell give Virginia Tech what looks like its best one-two punch. Reynolds comes over from Penn State and already knows Franklin’s offense after posting 368 yards over the past two seasons there.
Gosnell brings the other half of the equation as a multi-year starter and established option. Ja’Ricous Hairston adds another layer after finishing 2025 with a room-high 112 receiving yards and a joint-team-high three receiving touchdowns.
Running back also looks deep. Marcellous Hawkins is projected to open as the starter after rushing for 749 yards in 2025, and Jeffery Overton Jr. gives the Hokies another usable option after finishing last season with 146 rushing yards. Behind them, there’s a real crowd for touches with Louisiana transfer Bill Davis, redshirt sophomore Tyler Mason and true freshman Messiah Mickens all in the mix.
Quarterback is another spot that should give Virginia Tech some optimism. Ethan Grunkemeyer, a Penn State transfer, is one of the biggest reasons for that.
He showed noticeable growth after taking over late last season and looks like a natural fit in Franklin’s offense. In 2025, he threw for 1,339 yards and eight touchdowns while making seven starts.
Bryce Baker gives the Hokies more upside behind him.
Up front on defense, Sean Spencer has a group that may be better than it first appears. Kemari Copeland and Elhadj Fall bring experience on the interior, while Javion Hilson, Aycen Stevens and Jason Abbey lead the edge rotation. It’s not an elite room yet, but there’s a workable mix of returning production and transfer help.
Wide receiver took a clear step forward as well. Ayden Greene is back after leading Virginia Tech in catches, yards and touchdowns with 31 receptions, 516 receiving yards and three scores.
Duke transfer Que’Sean Brown brings additional ACC production, and the Hokies also get Chanz Wiggins and Keylen “Brodie” Adams back after both missed all of 2025 with injuries. The room now has more speed, more size and more competition than it did a year ago.
The offensive line still feels more like a projection than a finished product, even though the ceiling is higher. Logan Howland, Justin Terry and Kyle Altuner’s continued development give the Hokies a better foundation than they had last season, but health, chemistry and consistency are still unresolved. Virginia Tech also needs several newcomers to settle in quickly.
The secondary remains the biggest concern. Quentin Reddish and Tyson Flowers provide leadership at safety, and freshman corner Amauri Polydor has created plenty of buzz, but the defensive backs still have to prove they can stop explosive plays after last season’s issues.
Linebacker sits in a similar spot. Noah Chambers and Kaleb Spencer are the headliners, but the group still has to show it can make a steady impact. There’s athleticism and experience in the room, yet replacing production and holding up against the run are still major items before camp opens.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech Just Added A Nonconference Test Fans Will Debate
Virginia Techs mens basketball schedule is still taking shape, and the latest additions give the Hokies a little more clarity on what the nonconference slate will look like. According to contracts obtained by The Roanoke Times, the program has lined up games against Central Florida and Mercer, two matchups that help round out the early part of the upcoming season and offer a better sense of the challenges ahead.
The UCF game stands out as the more eye-catching of the two, since Central Florida is coming off a 2026 NCAA Tournament appearance and the meeting will be at a neutral site in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mercer, a Southern Conference team, is also on the schedule, giving Virginia Tech another home date to work with as it continues filling in the details of a nonconference slate that still has room for debate. [Read more 🡒]
Brian White Just Sent Hokies Fans Another Strong Message
Virginia Techs athletic department has moved quickly to reshape itself under Brian White, and the latest wave of hires suggests the Hokies are trying to build more than just a new front office. Ryan Gottlieb was brought in as Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Strategy Officer, Brad Bell arrived as Executive Associate Athletics Director of Advancement and Executive Director, and the addition of Mary Giardina gives White another experienced administrator with a background at West Virginia, Florida Atlantic and Duke.
Giardinas arrival is notable not just because she fills a key role, but because it fits the broader direction White appears to be taking. The hires around him point toward a department placing a premium on strategy, development and alignment, and that kind of structure usually signals a bigger shift in how an athletic program wants to operate. For Hokies fans, the message is clear enough even if the full blueprint is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Adds Justin Terry To Keep Rebuilding Its Offensive Line
Virginia Tech kept adding to its offensive line rebuild by signing tackle Justin Terry out of the transfer portal, a move aimed at creating more depth and real competition up front. Terry arrives after stops at West Virginia and Ohio State, where he got into six games for the Buckeyes, and the Hokies are counting on him to help stabilize a unit that needs more bodies and more reliability heading into the fall.
His path has already taken a few turns, and that matters for a Virginia Tech front still trying to find the right mix. Terry is expected to be in the mix quickly, giving the Hokies another experienced option as they continue sorting out who can hold up on the edge and who can handle the weekly grind of ACC play. [Read more 🡒]