In two weeks, the Virginia Tech football team will kick off the 2026 season under the lights at Lane Stadium in a non-conference game against VMI. It is also the beginning of the James Franklin era in Blacksburg, something that fans have been waiting for since he was hired last November.
There might be two weeks until the season officially begins, but there are still plenty of questions as to who will earn some of the starting spots, and none bigger than at quarterback. Candidates for the spot include Penn State transfer Ethan Grunkemeyer, North Carolina transfer Bryce Baker, returning redshirt freshman Kelden Ryan, and true freshman Troy Huhn. Franklin has been noncommittal as to who he's leaning towards, but all the signs point to Grunkemeyer.
On Saturday, the Virginia Tech Football X account dropped the captains for the upcoming season and the graphic may have subtly leaked who will be under center and truthfully, it wouldn't be a surprise at all.
Virginia Tech football names captains for the 2026 season
There are going to be six captains for Franklin's first season with the Hokies. Who are they? Grunkemeyer, tight end Benji Gosnell, linebacker George Ballance, linebacker Kaleb Spencer, safety Tyson Flowers, and kicker John Love.
Our 2026 Virginia Tech Football Team Captains#LetsGoHokies pic.twitter.com/iAeXHiJsPo
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) August 22, 2026
Now, the naming of Grunkemeyer doesn't mean that he's the official starter, but who are we fooling here? Read into what you want, but it would be stunning if he wasn't the starter, especially after the ESPN story that was leaked earlier this week about Beau Pribula being on campus in early January, when word was getting out that Grunkemeyer was coming to Blacksburg to follow Franklin and position coach Danny O'Brien.
As for the other captains, Gosnell and Love are program veterans, while Ballance being named captain is a very good story. Flowers has been a leader of the secondary since he arrived through the Transfer Portal.
The depth chart for Week 1 against VMI will be released soon, and unless Franklin finally announces it, the depth chart will confirm what everyone is expecting at the quarterback position. For now, Grunkemeyer and five other teammates are the first captains under Franklin at Virginia Tech.
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