If there has been one thing that James Franklin has had to navigate in his first season as head coach at Virginia Tech, it's injuries. They happen to every team, but for the Hokies, they seem to happen in bunches, mainly along the offensive line.
Johnny Garrett went down before the season started, which put position coach Matt Moore and Franklin already at a disadvantage. Things haven't really gotten better from there. Georgia State transfer Montavious Cunningham has been someone who has battled injuries, and Franklin was hoping to get him back this week against Clemson. It's not going to happen.
Virginia Tech rules out OL Montavious Cunningham and CB Thomas Williams against Clemson
When the first availability report was dropped earlier this week, Cunningham and defensive back Thomas Williams were listed as questionable. On Friday night, the final report was dropped ahead of Saturday night's game, and both players were downgraded to out for Virginia Tech. Both are huge losses.
As for Cunningham, it was something that Franklin was preparing for earlier in the week. Last week, freshman Benjamin Eziuka played nearly 50 snaps against Georgia Tech and will be counted on again in the ACC's version of Death Valley. That's not an easy task for a young player, playing against a stout Clemson defense on the road. It's actually less than ideal for protecting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.
"He's dense; he's powerful in the weight room, and he's super trustworthy," Franklin said earlier this week about Eziuka. "Obviously, everybody uses that quote: 'Do your job.' He's that guy. You know what you're going to get from him every single day."
He'll need to be "that guy" against Clemson.
As for Williams, he forced a big fumble last week against Georgia Tech. After allowing a game-opening drive touchdown to Virginia Tech, the Yellow Jackets marched down the field on their following possession and were feet away from a game-tying touchdown when Williams forced a fumble that went out the back of the end zone for a touchback. That ended up being a big play in a 34-24 victory.
Franklin sounded like someone who was hoping to have Williams back to help a struggling secondary, per David Cunningham of Tech Sideline, on the road, but he is going to be available.
Franklin on Williams on Wednesday:
— David Cunningham (@therealdcunna) October 24, 2026
“We’re expecting him to be full go. He’s practiced all week long. He actually could have went back in the game on Saturday. …
“He continues to get better. I did think he was playing well on Saturday, so being able to have him back and he’s…
This is going to be a matchup of Virginia Tech's struggling secondary against Clemson's struggling passing game. Something is going to have to give for both teams, and unfortunately for the Hokies, they'll have to try to win the battle without Williams. As for the offensive line, opening holes for running backs Marcellous Hawkins Jr. and Jeffrey Overton Jr. is going to be that more difficult as they look to get the running game going.
Both teams are dealing with injuries like all teams this time of year, but for Virginia Tech, it makes the matchup against Dabo Swinney and the Tigers that much more difficult. We'll see how things play out for the Hokies, who are on a much-needed bye next weekend.
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