When the Virginia Tech football team got retention for the 2026 season, one of the players who was retained was kicker John Love. Expected to be kicking on Sundays in the NFL, the senior has been clutch during his time in Blacksburg.
You knew that there were going to be some games that were going to come down on his foot, and that has been the case for the last two weeks. However, with what once felt like a position where no competition was needed, there is going to be competition, it sounds like.
James Franklin sends John Love message about Virginia Tech practice this upcoming week
Last week, Love had the game on his foot against Pittsburgh, and his chip-shot field goal to win it sailed wide left, and the Panthers escaped with a 35-33 victory at Lane Stadium. You knew that if Franklin had an opportunity to give his kicker another chance. He did, and the results went from bad to worse in a 25-20 loss at California.
Love missed a 55-yard field goal attempt in the first half on a kick that sailed wide left again. If we're being honest, his first kick from 55 yards is not really a kick you want him trying to make. Maybe say, a shorter kick from closer range? Get some confidence with a closer kick? Nope. As if that wasn't bad enough, then came the nightmare kick.
In the fourth quarter, he missed a 39-yard field goal attempt, again wide left. He has zero confidence, and the ACC Network broadcast showed Cole Byrd warming up in the fourth quarter in case there was going to be another kick for Virginia Tech. There wasn't, and after the game, Franklin spoke about Love and spoke highly of him before sending a message about a potential kicking competition in practice this week. It might need to happen.
Who knows what will happen, and who will be kicking next week against Georgia Tech at Lane Stadium. Will it be Love or will it be Byrd? Maybe a competition in practice this week will answer that question, and maybe there won't be a change. Whatever happens, John Love has lost all of his confidence, and that is concerning.
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