2026 VT Position Previews: Questions Abound at Wide Receiver

Following the 2026 Spring Game, James Franklin had overwhelmingly positive things to say about the program as a whole and several of the position groups that took the field. However, Franklin did offer a challenge to one position unit, the wide receivers. While the tight ends dominated during the game with 205 receiving yards from just five players, the Hokies’ eight receivers who saw action combined for only 157 yards. Following the game, Franklin said, “We got to get our wide receivers more involved on a consistent basis.” Franklin emphasized having offensive balance, not just between the running and passing game, but also with how the ball is distributed on the field. Franklin referenced the great Mike Leach’s philosophy of making the defense defend all eligible receivers on the field and every portion of the field. While the receivers did not have a bad Spring Game, none of them truly stood out. Tyseer Denmark led all receivers with just 38 yards, and the projected top two at the position combined for just six catches and 40 yards. While a spring exhibition likely will not tell the full story, Franklin has drawn criticism in the past for his team’s failure to develop wide receivers. In his last three full seasons at Penn State, the Nittany Lions ranked 45th, 75th, and 59th in passing yards. While that lack of production cannot all be blamed on the receiving corps, the lack of production out of the position was certainly a big factor. Now, as Franklin prepares for his first season in Blacksburg, he finds himself with a receiver room that possesses lots of talent, but not a lot of proven production. Similar to the running back room, there are two proven talents at the top of the depth chart that will be major factors in the offense’s success, but after that lie a lot of question marks. 

Let’s take a closer look at the wide receivers that will have the best chance of contributing this season, and what we’ve been hearing from coaches about their development this offseason.

Ayden Greene

Ayden Greene’s numbers have been ramping up over his first three seasons for Virginia Tech, and now he seems poised for a major breakout. In 2024, Greene caught 19 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns, including a major game against Minnesota in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. In that game, Greene charted six catches for 115 yards. Then last season, for an offense that only threw the ball 26 times per game, which ranked 114th in FBS, Greene led the team with 31 catches for 516 yards and three touchdowns. As I wrote above, Virginia Tech will look for more balance offensively this season, which should hopefully lead to more opportunities for Greene. Greene has demonstrated his ability as a big-play wide receiver, averaging 16.6 yards per catch in 2025, good for 45th in all of college football last year. The Hokies mostly utilized Greene on vertical routes down the field, relying on him to box out defenders and win 50/50 balls. Hopefully, Offensive Coordinator Ty Howle will find more creative ways to utilize Greene and allow him to create more separation rather than just using him as a jump ball pass catcher. Greene is also a well-respected leader in the locker room, with James Franklin noting on multiple occasions that he sits on the team’s leadership council. Greene will likely be a candidate for a captain spot this season, and he sets the tone for the rest of the position. With the amount of unproven talent at wide receiver, the Hokies will heavily rely on Greene’s experience to carry the load at least early on. As James Franklin looks for “erasers” on this roster, players who can fix a mistake with one big play, the spotlight will be on Greene to potentially elevate his game and become one of those playmakers. 

Que’Sean Brown

The other veteran presence the Hokies have high expectations for out of the receiver room is Duke transfer, Que’Sean Brown. In his last two seasons for the Blue Devils, Brown tallied almost 1,300 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Unlike Greene, who projects as an outside receiver, Brown will likely play in the slot. He stands at just 5-8, 170 lbs, but what he lacks in size he more than makes up for in speed and quickness. During spring practice, Brown demonstrated his ability to separate from defenders on multiple occasions, including a 1-on-1 rep against one of the Hokies' projected starting corners, Isaiah Brown Murray. Brown ran a crossing route, and while Brown Murray was able to keep up initially, eventually Que’Sean was able to break away and create an easy throw for his quarterback. James Franklin told us that while he’s always hesitant to praise new players until he sees them produce, he was impressed with what Brown put on the field this spring.

Brown also has the ability to contribute on special teams. In 2025, he returned nine punts for the Blue Devils and averaged nearly 13 yards per return. Brown also ran a punt back 78 yards for a touchdown last year against Elon. With his speed and versatility, Brown will certainly be a weapon for the Hokies this season, and will hopefully serve as a nice underneath security blanket for whoever starts at quarterback this year. 

Tayke Heath

With the addition of Brown, it may have been easy to brand Tayke Heath as an “odd man out” for this season, given that Heath also projects as an inside, slot receiver much like Brown. The two even share very similar body types, with Heath standing 5-9, 172 lbs. Furthermore, Heath did not record a reception in the Spring Game, leading to an offseason where he mostly flew under the radar. However, Wide Receivers coach Fontel Mines says Heath has embraced the competition and has been shaped by the adversity he’s faced throughout his career. Mines says that Heath has had a really good offseason, and that the staff is looking for creative ways to get Brown and Heath on the field together. A lineup featuring both of them may lack some height, but given the depth at the tight end position, the Hokies may be able to afford putting two smaller receivers on the field at the same time. This is all contingent on Heath continuing to improve his consistency, as he has struggled with drops during his time in Blacksburg. Heath does come with slightly more experience than many of the other receivers in the room, with seven starts last season where he recorded 22 catches for 200 yards and three touchdowns. That experience could give him a leg up in a close battle for reps heading into the season. 

Marlion Jackson

The final Hokie receiver that comes into 2026 with significant game reps is Marlion Jackson. Jackson appeared in 30 games at Louisiana Tech, hauling in 46 catches for 753 yards and three touchdowns across three seasons. Unfortunately, Jackson missed the entirety of spring practice with injury, so information on his potential role in the offense is limited. However, Jackson was the first name Fontel Mines mentioned when asked about guys who have stepped up this offseason to provide receiver depth behind Greene and Brown. Jackson’s experience and height could make him a valuable asset to the Hokies. Right now, the Hokies are lacking a taller receiver to put on the opposite side of the field from Ayden Greene, and at 6-2, Jackson could fill that role. While he may still be relatively unknown for now, Jackson will be a name to watch when the Hokies begin fall camp in a few weeks as a contender for a starting role. 

Keylen “Brodie” Adams

When Keylen “Brodie” Adams arrived on Virginia Tech’s campus in 2024, he was seen as a major recruiting get for the Hokies, and a potential star. Adams was ranked as the #6 player in Virginia and the #61 receiver in the country. Unfortunately, Adams’ career thus far has been marred by injuries, as he has only seen action in three games in his first two seasons. However, it seems like Adams has been able to put together a healthy offseason and has caught the eye of Coach Mines. Adams certainly has the talent to be a playmaker for the Hokies, with 247 saying he had mid-round NFL draft potential coming out of high school, but his availability and consistency will be major question marks as he tries to finally get on the field this season. 

Chanz Wiggins

Wiggins’ story is remarkably similar to Adams. He came in as a highly touted recruit in the 2024 class, slotting in just behind Adams as the #7 player from Virginia. At 6-3, 201 lbs, his frame makes him a physically imposing target, but Wiggins has also struggled with injuries throughout his career. After redshirting in 2024, Wiggins was injured during preseason camp last year and missed the entire season. This spring, Wiggins also battled through another minor injury, forcing him into a non-contact jersey at times. However, Chanz seemed to make it through the Spring unscathed by serious injury and was productive in the Spring Game, making two catches for 36 yards and a touchdown. Much like Adams, the sky is the limit in terms of Wiggins’ potential, but he’ll need to prove he can stay healthy to earn reps. 

Shamarius “Snook” Peterkin

Due to injuries and limited depth at the position in 2025, true freshman ‘Snook” Peterkin was asked to step up and play more than anyone thought he would. Overall, he appeared in eight games and capped off his season with a 57-yard touchdown against UVA. Peterkin is a natural athlete, demonstrated by the fact that he was also a member of the Hokies basketball team last season. He also ran the 100-meter dash in High School, demonstrating his straight-line speed. With a wide-open competition for reps in the wide receiver room, Peterkin’s unique athleticism and skill set could help him stand out, and at the very least make him an intriguing gadget player for Ty Howle to get creative with this season. Mines says that Peterkin went through the typical freshman ups and downs a season ago, but certainly has a skillset that can help the Hokies’ offense.

A.J. Brand

Speaking of gadget players, A.J. Brand is another player that could line up at different spots this season. Brand started this offseason as a quarterback, but quickly transitioned over to wide receiver, a move that was described as “tough on both sides” by quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien. However, Franklin said the switch will give Brand the best opportunity to contribute and help on both offense and special teams. Franklin also teased the potential of Brand lining up at quarterback at times in a “Wild Hokie” formation. Coach Mines says while it took him a couple of practices to feel comfortable with the change, Brand has fully bought in to being a receiver and is very pleased with where he’s at. Mines says Brand has big hands and really good flexibility, giving him the ability to get in and out of his routes quickly. While Brand certainly possesses a lot of the tools needed to be a great receiver, he may need more practice reps under his belt before he’s ready to contribute on Saturdays. 

Tyseer Denmark

If you’re looking for a sleeper pick in the Virginia Tech wide receiver competition, you’ve found your guy in Tyseer Denmark. Denmark was a well-regarded prospect in the 2024 class, earning 4-stars from ESPN and Rivals. Denmark spent the past two seasons working with Franklin and several other members of the current Virginia Tech staff at Penn State. Denmark also comes in with a little playing experience. In two seasons, he appeared in 12 games, but only caught 4 passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. However, that limited experience, combined with his familiarity with Franklin and Howle, could be enough to earn him some reps if he can put together a solid fall camp. Denmark was one of the best performers at the wide receiver position in the Spring Game, hauling in 4 catches for 38 yards. The uncertainty surrounding the depth of the receiving room could create an opportunity for Denmark to step up. 

Jeff Exinor Jr.

Another Penn State transfer, Jeff Exinor is one of the most interesting athletic projects on the Virginia Tech roster. He’s 6-1, 218 lbs, and was seen easily hang-cleaning 275 lbs in the weight room this spring. His build reminds me of Patriots receiver A.J. Brown, and while I’m certainly not saying Exinor will go on to be an elite NFL receiver, the physical tools are definitely there. He was a four-star prospect in High School who also had two catches for 24 yards in the spring game and displays plenty of raw tools. We’ll see if that skill set is enough to leave the coaches no choice but to put Exinor on the field this season. 

The wide receiver position is one of the most mysterious positions on the Hokies’ roster, with limited college production outside of Ayden Greene and Que’Sean Brown. Coaches have emphasized throughout the offseason that consistency will be one of the biggest factors in who earns reps this season, and the battle for those reps will certainly be one of the biggest talking points in the lead-up to the opening game against VMI. I would not be surprised to see the Hokies deploy a number of these receivers in the early weeks as they continue to evaluate the position and see who rises to the challenge.