Going into the 2026 season, Virginia Tech defensive lineman Kemari Copeland has been getting some preseason love. The veteran lineman has been named to several different preseason award watch lists.
The latest preseason award watch list that Copeland landed on was the Bednarik Award Watch List, which is awarded to the nation's top defensive player. Copeland was also named to the Senior Bowl Top 300 Watch List as well as the East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List.
Kemari Copeland primed for big season in Blacksburg
The Bednarik Award Watch List is the latest preseason honor for Copeland, who came to Virginia Tech from Iowa Western Community College. Copeland has also been named to the Nagurski Award Watch List and the Outland Trophy Watch List. He was also listed on The Athletic's Freak List going into the season with linebacker Kaleb Spencer.
As far as the Bednarik Award Watch List, other ACC players that are on it are Sammy Brown and Ashton Hampton of Clemson, Ja'Bril Rawls of Florida State, Clev Lubin of Louisville, Ahmad Moten, Sr. and Damon Wilson of Miami, Melhart Abou Jaoude of North Carolina, Braylan Lovelace of Pittsburgh, Matt Rose of Stanford, Kam Robinson of Virginia, and Langston Hardy of Wake Forest.
Copeland had opportunities to go elsewhere following the 2025 coaching change, and if he did, nobody would have blamed him. Instead, he stuck with Franklin, and Brent Pry's return as the defensive coordinator also helped make his decision easier.
As for the Senior Bowl Watch List, Reynolds, a tight end who came to the Hokies from Penn State who joined Copeland on that Watch List. Both players are in a position to raise their draft stock this fall at Virginia Tech. The preseason is coming to a close, and it is just 14 days until the Hokies kick off the 2026 campaign at home against VMI under the lights inside Lane Stadium, and it'll be the first opportunity for Copeland to impress.
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