When Kemari Copeland was looking to make the jump from Iowa Western Community College to the Power 4, there were not many schools that were after him. However, during the time he was looking to make the transition, there was one school that stood out from everyone else: Virginia Tech.
That was former head coach Brent Pry, who was fired last September after a loss at home to Old Dominion, falling to 0-3. In November, Virginia Tech hired his replacement, James Franklin, who was fired from Penn State a month earlier. Then the unthinkable happened: Pry was brought back as Franklin's new DC in Blacksburg.
That, along with the addition of Franklin, was enough for Copeland to remain committed to the Hokies and return for 2026. After injuries hampered his first season at Virginia Tech and ended it after just four games, Copeland came back and was a major contributor for the 2025 season. As good as he was, Franklin thinks he can be even better this fall.
James Franklin drops a scary quote on defensive lineman Kemari Copeland
After recording just six tackles in 2024, Copeland registered 48 last season with a team-high 4.5 sacks and, yes, one interception. The Virginia Beach native is hoping to raise some eyebrows when it comes to the NFL Draft in April. If Franklin's statement ends up being true, then he just might.
Read More: Virginia Tech star Kemari Copeland skyrockets up impressive list ahead of 2026 season
"I think the exciting thing about Kemari is that I think he can get a lot better,'' said Franklin. "I think he's done some really good things here in his career.''
We would agree with Franklin that Copeland has done some nice things in Blacksburg, but we would also agree that he can get better. If he does, then the ACC could be in trouble this fall. What could make Copeland even better is his teammates around him. Some returning players are ready to break out, as well as Transfer Portal additions that are going to make a big impact as the season goes along.
Sean Spencer was hired from Texas A&M, and it might have been the best thing for Copeland. Pry coming back as the defensive coordinator might seem weird, but maybe the best thing under Franklin, considering the success they had together at Penn State. There are a lot of reasons for Virginia Tech to be excited for the upcoming season, and Copeland is at the top of that list.
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