WEEK 3 · Sep 19 · SECU STADIUM · 93 DAYS SP+ '25 -10.1 · #105

Virginia Tech

Franklin-era reboot — Penn State transplants on a top-5 portal class, 6.5-win market, install still wet by week 3.

2025 · 3-9; Brent Pry fired in September 2025

Scout dashboard Advance report 2025 leaders → Roster breakdown Depth chart Official roster ↗ ← All opponents

THE MARYLAND ANGLE

Sep 19 is the Franklin era's first road game, week 3 of a from-scratch install with a first-time play-caller and an R-So. QB — best window to catch them before it gels. They run first and live in 12 personnel: match the TEs (Reynolds/Gosnell), force Grunkemeyer into third-and-long. Their front (Copeland, Hilson) vs. our protection is the game; quick game for Washington. They're laying for a hot September start at 6.5 — they've circled this one too, and they've taken five of the last six in the series.

Offense

SCHEMEHowle (ex-Penn State TE coach, first year as full-time P4 play-caller): run-game-first, earn vertical shots off it, heavy tight end usage. Grunkemeyer profiles as classic pocket passer who can scramble, not a designed runner.

QBGrunkemeyer (R-So., Penn State transfer) — heavy favorite. Started 7 games at PSU in 2025 (69% comp, 1,339 yds, 8 TD). 13-of-17, 136 yds, TD/INT in spring game. Baker (Fr., North Carolina transfer) and Huhn behind him in a young room.

RETURNGreene (WR) — field-flipping size/speed, top returning target · Heath (WR) · Gosnell (TE) — part of a suddenly loaded TE room · Hawkins (RB) · Overton (RB)

ADDSGrunkemeyer (QB, Penn State) · Reynolds (TE, Penn State) — former five-star, No. 2 TE in ESPN portal rankings, early-round 2027 draft buzz · Brown (WR, Duke) — projected starter, seam/YAC threat · Bell (OL, Michigan State) · Davis (RB, Louisiana) · Henderson (TE, Penn State)

Whole identity transplanted from State College: Grunkemeyer throwing to a TE room (Reynolds, Gosnell, Hairston) that goes from ignored to a featured weapon, with Greene and Brown outside. Run game must carry early while a rebuilt line (Bell from Michigan State) settles. Explosive-but-low-turnover is the stated vision; execution depends on a first-time play-caller and a redshirt sophomore QB.

Defense

SCHEMEPry back as DC (his Penn State role under Franklin, 2016-21 as DC). Stated emphasis: 'pressure changes everything' — front-seven disruption over individual stats.

RETURNCopeland (DT, R-Sr.) — team-high 4.5 sacks in 2025, third-team All-ACC · Fall (DT) — experienced interior option · Stevens (EDGE) — three years in program, thin production · Crim (CB)

ADDSHilson (EDGE, R-Fr., Missouri) — 38.5 prep sacks at Cocoa HS, the ceiling-raiser up front · Wylie (LB, Penn State) · Jennings (DL, Penn State) · Chadwick (DB, UConn) · Mensah (DL, portal) · Adirika (DL, portal)

Copeland anchors a line that lost Gilliam and Huisman and needs depth to survive a full season. Pass rush is the swing variable — if Hilson hits, the front seven can carry a secondary that lost Lovett (UCLA) and Brown. Spencer (ex-Texas A&M) runs the DL as run game coordinator; experienced position staff (Perry, Midget) behind Pry.

Coaching

HCJames Franklin · 1st year NEW 2026

OCTy Howle (also TEs; followed Franklin from Penn State; first full-time P4 play-calling job)

DCBrent Pry (also LBs; fired as VT head coach Sept 2025, rehired as DC; Franklin's DC at Penn State and co-DC at Vanderbilt)

CHANGESFull staff turnover: Franklin hired Nov 2025 after Pry's in-season firing and Franklin's own October exit from Penn State · Howle in as OC/TEs from Penn State · Pry returns to the building as DC/LBs · Spencer (ex-Texas A&M) as run game coordinator/DL · Holdovers retained: Mines, Moore

Win-now hire with a Penn State chassis — staff blends Franklin loyalists with VT holdovers. Pry-as-DC is the wildcard: elite coordinator track record, awkward optics, total scheme familiarity with the roster he recruited.

Roster Changes

Grunkemeyer (QB, Penn State)
Reynolds (TE, Penn State)
Hilson (EDGE, Missouri)
Brown (WR, Duke)
Bell (OL, Michigan State)

OUT

Holloway (WR, FAU)
Lovett (CB, UCLA)
Watson (QB, UMass)
Seldon (WR, destination unverified)
Woodson (LB, destination unverified)

Roughly 25 portal adds — On3's No. 5 portal class, 20 of 25 from P4 rosters, skewed young — against ~21 exits off a 3-9 team. Paired with 14 returning starters (most in the ACC), it's a net talent gain with real continuity questions only at QB depth and in the secondary.

Special Teams

Love back for a redshirt-senior year (15/20 FG in 2025, 114/114 career XP, has 49-yard game-winner range); younger brother Will joins the K room as a freshman. Return game takes a hit — Holloway, one of the ACC's top punt returners, left for FAU; 2026 punter and returner jobs unsettled/unverified.

Vegas

6.5WIN TOTAL · FanDuel

FanDuel opened Franklin's first year at 6.5 wins, 11th among ACC teams — market prices a rebuild year off 3-9, while media coverage (ESPN's Connelly) calls them one of 2026's hardest projections. Beat/national consensus runs 7-8 wins with nine as the upside case; Franklin is selling 'shock the world.'

Key Players

GrunkemeyerQB

Penn State transfer pocket passer; whole offense hinges on his year-two jump.

ReynoldsTE

Former five-star, No. 2 portal TE; the centerpiece of Howle's TE-heavy passing game.

CopelandDT

Team-high 4.5 sacks, third-team All-ACC; anchor of a thin interior.

HilsonEDGE

Missouri transfer; if the pass rush spikes, he's why.

GreeneWR

Top returning receiver; vertical field-flipper.

LoveK

15/20 FG, perfect on 114 career XPs, 49-yard winner range; steals a close game.

Researched 2026-06-09 · ESPN, 247Sports, On3 (via portal-class ranking), Sports Illustrated (SI Virginia Tech), CBS Sports, hokiesports.com, Tech Lunch Pail… · 21 sources on file