2026 Tech Transcripts, Vol. 2: Compete, Compete, Compete

While much of the attention this offseason for Virginia Tech has rightfully centered around James Franklin, college football is not a one-man show. One of a head coach's most important jobs is building a staff that can recruit and develop players at a high level. We have covered Franklin’s coordinator picks, but what about the rest of the staff that will work to “Re-Establish” Virginia Tech football in 2026? On Tuesday night, I got the chance to sit down with 9 of those coaches to find out what they bring to Blacksburg. It’s a lot of information to break down, so today we’re just going to start with the biggest takeaways from the offensive coaching staff. Overall, one of the biggest themes of the night was that this staff is looking forward to tough and stiff competition across their deep position rooms. With that, let’s dive in. 

Wide Receivers Coach Fontel Mines

Fontel Mines is one of three coaches to be retained from the previous coaching staff, along with O-line Coach Matt Moore and, of course, former Head Coach, now Defensive Coordinator, Brent Pry. When I asked Mines what the deciding factor was in his decision to return to VT, his answer was simple: “James Franklin.” Mines said he was excited about the opportunity to work with someone as well-respected as Franklin and to grow as a coach. Mines also hinted that James Franklin has been spending some time working with the receivers, a position group that Franklin has coached at the college and NFL level. Mines said the players “have really enjoyed having three wide receivers coaches” between himself, Franklin, and Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Cam Phillips, who was praised by multiple players last season for his work. With that trio of coaches, I don’t think it’s outlandish to say the Hokies’ wideouts are getting some of the best coaching in the country.

A possible reason to need three coaches working with that position is the number of mouths there are to feed in that room. Virginia Tech brings back Ayden Greene to lead the group, along with Tayke Heath, who started multiple games last season and still has tons of potential. Touted recruits Chanz Wiggins and Brodie Adams are also back and looking to make the jump from talented prospect to Saturday contributor. The Hokies also injected the WR position with some proven portal talent in the form of Que’Sean Brown, who tallied over 800 yards for Duke a year ago, and Marlion Jackson, who played in 30 games during his time at Louisiana Tech. James Franklin also brought some luggage with him from Happy Valley, adding former Nittany Lions Tyseer Denmark and Jeff Exinor Jr. to an already crowded WR room. That kind of depth can be a blessing and a curse. While it can give you options, it can also make it hard to get everyone the necessary reps during the Spring. Mines is embracing the challenge, saying “that’s what it’s all about, it’s about competition, the cream always rises to the top.” Mines says while it’s on the players to compete, it’s also the coach's job to be open and transparent with the players, so they know what to expect. Mines also praised the guys who have been around the program, like Greene and Heath, for helping set the standard for all the new players. 

Finally, I asked Mines specifically about Jeff Exinor Jr. Exinor was one of the guys who flashed in the Hokies’ open weight room session on Monday, showing off some impressive explosiveness for his age.

Mines’ message for Exinor was the same as all the young guys that are coming into the program: “Just continue to grow and develop and learn and improve on his weaknesses…attack the weaknesses head-on, and not to shy away from them, don’t run from them, embrace them.”

Offensive Line Coach Matt Moore

The other familiar face on the offensive coaching staff is Matt Moore. Moore joined Brent Pry’s staff before last season after a very successful stint at West Virginia. Moore had a lot of work to do to turn around an OL that gave up 34 sacks in 2024. While injuries plagued the Hokies up front for most of the season, when Moore was able to build some continuity on the OL, the group did improve.  The Hokies ran for over 350 yards against Cal last season and did a better job protecting the QB as the year went on. Now Moore returns more confident in what he has in his group. He said last year, “There were a lot of unknowns for me, had a lot of guys who had never played before.” Moore also commented on the injury issues and how he had to play a lot of different guys at a lot of different positions, namely Tomas Rimac, who started a game at four of the five OL spots in 2025. Moore says he feels better about knowing who’s in the room and the depth he has available this year. 

Moore says the players and the opportunity to reshape the program after last season were critical in his decision to return to VT under James Franklin.

I also asked Moore about Reshirt Sophomore Center Kyle Altuner, who started all 12 games for the Hokies a year ago. Center is a tough position for a young player, with the mental and physical load they carry, but Altuner acquitted himself well in his first year starting and showed a lot of growth. Moore said that Altuner has “set the bar for himself,” and that expectations this season are high for him. Moore highlighted that Altuner needs to become “more physical, he’s got to become stronger at the point of attack, he’s got to continue growing as a Center and leading the offense and leading the offensive line.”

Running Backs Coach Norval McKenzie

Norval McKenzie comes in from Georgia Tech to lead one of the few position groups that shone for the Hokies a year ago. As I mentioned earlier, the Hokies' run game was the most productive part of the offense a year ago, and now McKenzie will inherit two of those talented backs. Marcellous Hawkins came in as an unheralded transfer from the Division 2 level, but quickly burst on the scene in Blacksburg. He was the Hokies’ most productive back in 2025, racking up 749 yards on just 118 touches for an average of 6.3 yards per carry. Hawkins is a big, physical back who is now the leader of the RB room. McKenzie says that Hawkins is a natural leader who exudes confidence and brings energy to the team. McKenzie says Hawkins attacks his preparation and approach to the game like a pro, and is excited about what he’ll contribute this Fall. 

The other tailback returning for another season in Blacksburg is Jeff Overton. Overton suffered an injury during a bowl practice in 2024, causing him to miss the first eight games of last season. When he finally did make his debut, he made the most of his opportunity. While only recording 146 yards on 25 rushes, Overton flashed his big-play ability with a 36-yard reception against Florida State and a 38-yard rushing TD against Miami. I asked McKenzie about any similarities to Georgia Tech RB Jamal Haynes, whom McKenzie coached in Atlanta, due to Overton's similar size. McKenzie responded by saying that Overton has put on some weight.

McKenzie said with the options he has in his RB room, between Hawkins, Overton, and Louisiana transfer Bill Davis, that he will be playing multiple backs this season. He said there’s not a “one-headed monster anymore in college football.” McKenzie said he would love to play 2-3 guys, with one hopefully separating from the pack to become the main guy in the backfield.

Quarterbacks Coach Danny O’Brien

Danny O’Brien is one of several staffers to come over from Penn State with James Franklin. O’Brien served in the same role in Happy Valley for the past two seasons, and now comes to Blacksburg with a very young quarterback room. The most experienced signal caller on the roster is Penn State transfer Ethan Grunkemeyer, with just seven starts under his belt. All those starts came last season after PSU’s starting QB Drew Allar went down with a season-ending injury. Grunkemeyer was immediately thrown into the fire, having to play at Iowa and at Ohio State, which was the number one team in the country. Grunkemeyer struggled to find his footing at first, but then nearly outdueled Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and Indiana the next week, coming up just short against the eventual National Champs 27-24. From there, Grunkemeyer helped lead Penn State to four straight wins to end their season. Now he comes to Blacksburg as the leader in the clubhouse to win the starting QB job because of that experience and his familiarity with O’Brien and Offensive Coordinator Ty Howle. 

Grunkemeyer will not be handed the job, however, with the Hokies bringing in some talented competition. That competition includes former 4-star recruit Bryce Baker, who comes over after a year in Chapel Hill. O’Brien said that Penn State recruited Baker hard out of high school, and now, with the modern era of player movement, he finally gets the chance to coach him. O’Brien said that Baker “craves coaching” and loves to know the “why” behind things, and is incredibly intelligent.

With five total QBs in the room, one of the big struggles will be getting everyone enough reps in the Spring. O’Brien acknowledged that challenge, and says he has a plan to get everyone the plays they need to develop and be evaluated. He says he’ll have to be creative to get all of them involved, and that mental reps for the five signal callers will be key. Despite Grunkemeyer being assumed by some fans as the starter, I think it will truly be an open competition come camp, and I’m excited to see how they balance the reps between the QBs. 

Overall, this offensive staff is incredibly high-energy and seems to be right in line with the competitive culture Franklin is trying to build. While details on the scheme and identity of this new offense are limited, we’ll soon get a sneak peak of what to expect when spring ball begins with an open practice on Thursday, March 19.