Over the last couple of weeks before the Transfer Portal opened, there were players making announcements in regards to their future. Some players were announcing that they were either leaving Blacksburg or returning.
There were mixed results in terms of retention and players leaving Virginia Tech, which created more needs in the portal for James Franklin. One player who had yet to announce his intentions was kicker John Love. You might not think that this is a big deal in terms of it being a kicker, but Love is one of the top kickers in the country.
Retaining him would be huge for Franklin, and on Tuesday, Love made his decision and will be returning to Blacksburg for his final season of college football. This is some big news.
Virginia Tech kicker John Love will return for 2026 season
As Virginia Tech fans know, Love has an NFL leg and will likely be kicking on Sundays after his senior season in Blacksburg. The Spartanburg, South Carolina native will be joined next season at Virginia Tech by his younger brother Will, who is also a kicker and is committed to the Hokies.
Year 5! pic.twitter.com/moVMPJH0XD
— John Love (@johnlove97) January 6, 2026
Over the last three seasons, Love has made 53 of his 62 field goal attempts. His longest kick was a 60-yard field goal, and that occurred in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on the final play of the first half of the Hokies' loss to the Golden Gophers. He drilled a 57-yard kick in September 2024 in Miami in Virginia Tech's controversial loss to the Hurricanes with the overturned touchdown by video review.
In 2025, Love's longest kick was a 52-yard boot at home in late October against California in a 42-34 double overtime win. The kicking game is big in college football, and Franklin will have one of the best kickers in the sport in his first season with the Hokies.