When the Virginia Tech football team takes the field at Lane Stadium on Sept. 5 against VMI to open the James Franklin era in Blacksburg, there are going to some names that Hokies fans are looking forward to seeing in action.
After an offseason that saw big roster turnover for Virginia Tech following the coaching change, some players came in through the Transfer Portal who are going to make an immediate impact. One of those players is Penn State transfer Luke Reynolds. A former Top 100 recruit from New England, Reynolds is someone who will be playing football on Sundays at the next level. That could be as soon as the fall of 2027.
However, before we get into his future, he has a 2026 season to play out at Virginia Tech. The tight end position is one that was hardly used in recent years, but that is going to change under Franklin and new offensive coordinator Ty Howle. Max Olson of ESPN ranked the Top 100 transfers for the upcoming season and ranked Reynolds 48th.
ESPN ranks Virginia Tech transfer tight end Luke Reynolds 48th best transfer for 2026
Hokies fans are going to notice several changes this upcoming season in terms of playcalling and the overall product on the field. However, the tight end position is going to be used much more, which was not always the case in the past. There is also depth at the position. Olson had a take that Virginia Tech fans will love.
"Reynolds followed coach James Franklin and his staff to Blacksburg as expected. The trio of Reynolds, returning starter Benji Gosnell, and Penn State transfer Matt Henderson should be among the best in the ACC in 2026,'' wrote Olson.
If there is one thing that Franklin has been able to do, it is use the tight end as a key part of the offense and produce NFL tight ends. Reynolds is the latest along the long line of tight ends who could be the next star under Franklin.
One other change fans will notice this season is the depth that the Hokies will have. That is for nearly all positions, tight end included. Former Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer will have his choice of tight ends to choose from, and his connection with Reynolds, which he made last year with the Nittany Lions, should carry over to Virginia Tech.
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