When James Franklin was hired at Virginia Tech, it was not surprising to see him return to his Penn State roots to add to his staff. He brought tight ends coach Ty Howle along with quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien.
In bringing Howle over from State College, Franklin made him his offensive coordinator. You knew that when the Hokies landed former Nittany Lions tight end Luke Reynolds through the Transfer Portal, the tight end position was going to be used a lot more than it was before the new staff was hired.
On Saturday, the Virginia Tech spring game was played at Lane Stadium. Yes, I know, it's only a spring game, but there was a glimpse of things to come. One thing that stood out was the usage of the tight ends by Howle. The numbers say that it is one position that the Hokies are using and use a lot in 2026.
Virginia Tech spring game hints at potential shift in offensive usage
Let's be honest, there were times when you had to look hard to find Hokies tight ends in games in recent seasons. That doesn't seem like it'll be the case under this staff. During Saturday's spring game, Tech's tight ends caught 16 passes for 190 yards. After the game, Franklin didn't beat around the bush on the way the tight ends were going to be used in the fall.
"I think we're going to get production out of our tight ends, there's no doubt about that," said Franklin.
There is no doubt that the tight end position is going to be a big part of the Hokies offense in 2026, and if it is, that could be a game-changer. The production from that position over the years hasn't been great, but with the way Franklin and Howle are recruiting the position, that is about to change. It also helps to have an elite tight end in Reynolds to throw the ball to and let him go make some plays. Times are changing in Blacksburg.
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