Virginia Tech

The most consequential decision belongs at quarterback. Bill Roth reported that Ethan Grunkemeyer, Bryce Baker, Kelden Ryan and Troy Huhn remained in the competition after spring, and Franklin said no QB1 had been selected. The staff charts every practice throw while weighing efficiency, explosive plays, ball security and production created through movement. Grunkemeyer completed 13 of 17 passes for 136 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the spring game; Baker finished 15 of 27 for 140 yards and a touchdown. Senior offensive analyst Warren Ruggiero said the four quarterbacks collectively completed 70 percent of their spring throws. Grunkemeyer brings prior starting experience, while Baker’s arm and mobility give the staff a distinct alternative.

The winner takes over a passing game that averaged 166.3 yards per game in 2025, last in the ACC and Virginia Tech’s lowest figure since 2008. Greene offers the best established starting point after leading the team with 31 catches, 516 yards and three touchdowns last season. Roth also identified him as a continuing member of the leadership council. Tight end Luke Reynolds, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound Penn State transfer, adds another intriguing option: Roth reported that Grunkemeyer leaned on his former teammate during a 5-for-5 opening drive in the spring game. Greene’s reliability and Reynolds’ size could help the new quarterback find manageable answers while the larger passing structure takes shape.

The backfield should give the offense a steadier foundation. Josh Poslusny’s preseason projection placed Hawkins, the 2025 team rushing leader with 749 yards, ahead of Marquese Overton, who gained 146 yards over the final four games. That pairing can keep the offense from placing every early burden on the quarterback. Up front, Virginia Tech signed seven offensive linemen in its 22-player class, part of an evident effort to rebuild size and depth over multiple seasons. Camp still must reveal the best five-man combination, making communication and cohesion as important as raw competition.

Virginia Tech’s clearest defensive strength is in the middle. Thomas Hughes identified Copeland as the proven interior anchor after 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and third-team All-ACC recognition in 2025. Elhadj Fall contributed 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. If those two can consistently disrupt blocking schemes from the interior, Pry will have more flexibility as he sorts the rotations at edge and linebacker. Their ability to create pressure without constant extra help could also make life easier for a secondary learning to play together.

That secondary has been rebuilt with experience. The roster includes transfer additions Jaquez White, Jordan Bass, Sherrod Covil Jr., Isaiah Brown-Murray and Tyson Flowers across corner and safety, alongside Virginia Tech’s returning young defensive backs. The school said in January that its incoming transfer class ranked No. 5 nationally by On3 and was assembled to add immediate experience and competition throughout the roster. In the secondary, the talent influx raises the number of viable options, but the practical work is about defining roles, communicating coverages and finding combinations that function as a unit.

The schedule gives Franklin a short runway before testing that cohesion. Virginia Tech opens at Lane Stadium against VMI and Old Dominion, then travels to Maryland and Boston College before hosting Pitt in its first home ACC game. Later trips to Cal, Clemson, SMU and Miami place substantial demands on travel readiness and depth. The opening home games offer time to sharpen the new systems; the consecutive September road dates provide the first clear measure of whether installation has become dependable execution. The regular season ends at home against Virginia.

Virginia Tech does not need every position to become a strength at once, but the major pieces must complement one another. Hawkins and Overton can support the quarterback, Greene and Reynolds can provide dependable targets, and Copeland and Fall can give the defense an interior foundation. Fall camp must still settle the quarterback order, offensive-line combination and key defensive roles, with availability capable of reshaping those choices before the opener. The defining question is straightforward: how quickly can Franklin turn a roster built through returners, transfers and freshmen into a team that plays with one identity?

Win probability

49%

Defensive havoc rate

13.2%

Front-seven havoc

8.6%