2026 VT Position Previews: Pry Leads the Linebackers

Back in February, when James Franklin took to the podium for his first press conference after fully assembling his coaching staff, he said something he learned last season is “your coordinators must be coaching a position.” He said at Penn State in 2025 they went to “floating coordinators,” and Franklin said that when coordinators are not working with a position, they can lose touch with how much they are trying to install and overwhelm the players with too much information. This season, Offensive Coordinator Ty Howle will coach the tight ends, and Defensive Coordinator Brent Pry will work with the linebackers. 

Linebackers are often referred to as “the quarterback of the defense,” as they are usually the ones communicating the play to the rest of the group and are responsible for getting everyone lined up correctly; So it makes sense for the defensive coordinator to work closely with the linebackers, especially with the new advent of helmet communication systems in college football. Pry’s linebacker group needs to be incredibly comfortable with his scheme to communicate it effectively and execute at a high level on Saturdays. Overall, the Hokies will primarily operate in a 4-3-4 or 4-2-5 defense. That means there will always be four defensive linemen, while the back end of the defense is subject to change based on the offensive personnel. On early, run-heavy downs, the Hokies may employ an extra linebacker on the field, while in passing situations you’ll see an extra defensive back. Pry’s defenses have also always emphasized versatility at the linebacker position; Micah Parsons is the prime example of that. The defense features a Star or Sam position that will serve as a hybrid player that can play the run, blitz, and drop into coverage. The Hokies have multiple athletic candidates that could play that role this season. However, the linebacker room is still incredibly young and raw, and they are all still learning a new defense under Pry, so their ability to grasp the scheme completely will have a major impact on defensive performance.

With that being said, let’s take a look at the Hokie linebackers who could make the biggest impact this season:

The Returners

While nobody is a lock to be a starter for James Franklin’s Hokies, with the high emphasis that’s been placed on competition this offseason, Noah Chambers is about as close as you can get. Chambers was forced into action as a true freshman last year due to injuries and opt-outs, and he performed very well given the circumstances. He started six games and racked up 44 tackles for the Hokies in 2025, and should now benefit from a full offseason of starter reps and Pry’s in-depth knowledge of the position. Chambers projects as an inside linebacker and, even as just a true sophomore, could be the defense’s signal-caller and one of its strongest leaders. Chambers is a trendy breakout pick on this defense, and if he can elevate his mental game, could be one of the best linebackers in the conference by the end of the season. Chambers could be joined in the middle by another returning player, Antwone Santiago. Santiago was mostly a depth piece for the Hokies a year ago, making just two starts, but Pry has often spoken highly of his abilities, and he comes in with a good amount of experience having played three seasons at Temple before arriving in Blacksburg. Familiarity and trust are always going to be important factors in playing time, and Santiago’s prior relationship with Pry could give him an advantage over some potentially more talented newcomers. At worst, Santiago provides veteran depth at a position where that is vital. Speaking of veterans, Kaleb Spencer returns for his third season with the Hokies after leading the team in tackles and tackles-for-loss in 2025. As I previously mentioned, Pry likes versatility in his linebackers, and Spencer certainly brings that to the table. He can play both inside and outside linebacker and, as a former defensive back, is also very comfortable playing in coverage. Pry says Spencer has “hybrid safety qualities,” so I will not be surprised to see Spencer utilized as a “Swiss-army knife” player on the defense. Pry added that Spencer was very raw last year, so his getting more comfortable in the scheme and building his fundamentals will determine just how creative Pry can get with him on the field. With his athleticism and coverage abilities, Spencer has the potential to be a three-down difference maker this season. Finally, Gabe Williams is back and is looking to finally make an impact. Williams was a highly-touted four-star recruit out of Maryland, but has faced lots of adversity during his college career. He suffered a season-ending injury against Clemson in 2024, then struggled to find his way on the field last season, playing in just four games. Right now, it seems like Pry is still trying to figure out the best way to utilize Williams’ athleticism, saying he has been working at both inside and outside linebacker this offseason. Pry added that Williams has been making slow progress, but he thinks that Williams is someone who can contribute this year. At worst, his athleticism, along with his 6-4, 235-pound frame, should make him a great candidate to contribute on special teams if he is also able to carve out a role in the linebacker rotation. 

The New Guys

The Hokies dipped into the portal to fill out their linebacker room and came away with two players who could be instant contributors for the defense. Curtis Jones Jr. crosses the state border after spending two seasons at West Virginia. Jones played in 23 games for the Mountaineers, but totaled just 24 tackles. Interestingly, Jones also played some running back for West Virginia in 2025. Pry says that Jones does not have a lot of background playing traditional linebacker, and has mostly been used as a hybrid, outside-the-box player, or as a rusher from the line of scrimmage. Despite the learning curve, Jones' comfort and ability to blitz and get after the quarterback could make him a valuable asset for Pry, who utilizes a lot of five-man pressures in his defensive scheme.

Meanwhile, Keon Wylie transfers in from Penn State and projects more as an inside linebacker. In 2025, Wylie played in 13 games, making 28 tackles and recording 2.5 tackles for loss for the Nittany Lions. Pry says that when he watched Wylie’s film from last season, his game speed and athleticism really popped. Unfortunately, sometimes Wylie would overthink or not make the right read, and Pry says “his mind would tie up his feet.” Pry says Wylie seems more comfortable in his role now than he was coming into the offseason, and if he can get his mind and his feet on the same page, Wylie could find himself in the starting lineup come week one. 

This linebacker core will be the most important position group for Virginia Tech’s defense to find success this season. While that may be true for a lot of defenses, it is especially apparent in Pry’s defensive scheme. Linebackers are trusted to do so much in Pry’s defense that if they are not up to par, the entire unit will suffer. Luckily, Pry has some great athletes and some players with solid collegiate experience to work with. This room has a couple of potential breakout candidates, and with their defensive coordinator’s direct tutelage, they should help the entire defense play cohesively and confidently on Saturdays.