The number four has been worn by a plethora of all-time great Hokies, but for today, we’ll honor one of the best defensive players to ever play at Virginia Tech, DeAngelo Hall.
Hall was one of the most dynamic and versatile players of the Frank Beamer era at Virginia Tech. Playing for the Hokies from 2001-03, the Chesapeake, Virginia native starred at cornerback while also becoming one of college football’s most dangerous punt returners.
He finished his Tech career with eight interceptions and returned 56 punts for 839 yards and five touchdowns, a school record he still holds or shares. In 2003, Hall earned All-America honors and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
After three seasons in Blacksburg, Hall entered the NFL Draft and was selected eighth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in 2004. He was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

A Louisiana judge issued a restraining order against the NCAA that allows 16 athletes to return to college football. Virginia Tech has added former SEC safety DQ Smith to the roster as a result.

The details are in a pay site, this is from FB.

One of the most beloved Hokies of all-time can really be summed up in three words: He just won.
The one thing you can't deny about Tyrod Taylor is that he was a winner. In his four years at Tech, he won three ACC Titles (2007, 2008 & 2010). He also brought home a Chick Fil-A Bowl Championship and an Orange Bowl Championship (VT's first and only BCS Bowl victory). He was twice named MVP of the ACC Championship Game (2008 and 2010) and was honored as the ACC Player of the Year in 2010.
In his Hokie career, Taylor appeared in 50 games and finished with 7,017 passing yards and 44 touchdowns, while adding 2,196 rushing yards and 23 scores on the ground.

Virginia Tech has its QB1 as Week 1 of the 2026 season is here. James Franklin won't have to worry about breaking in an unfamiliar quarterback when he begins his first season at Virginia Tech.

It's a new era in Blacksburg as Franklin comes from Penn State to the Hokies for a chance to turn this program around. Playing in the ACC could be a good thing for Franklin and his staff.
Season 1 should get off to a smooth start with a familiar face under center. Pete Thamel has announced that Ethan Grunkemeyer was named QB1 ahead of their Week 1 game against Virginia Military Institute.

"Sources: Virginia Tech has named transfer Ethan Grunkemeyer the starting quarterback, and he'll debut for the Hokies against VMI. Grunkemeyer is a Penn State transfer who threw for 1,339 yards and eight touchdowns. Won his final four starts of the year at Penn State."

Thamel also announced that Grunkemeyer was named team captain.
"This is making official the expected, as he's been named a team captain. Grunkemeyer started the final seven games of the season for Penn State last year, including throwing for a career-high 260 yards and two touchdowns in the Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson. He was recruited to Penn State by new Tech coach James Franklin."
For Franklin, it's difficult to imagine a better scenario entering Year 1. Grunkemeyer already understands what his head coach expects and brings starting experience with him from Penn State. More importantly, he finished his time with the Nittany Lions playing some of his best football.

Why is white effect a thing for us? I know its been there a while but during the Pry era the program made an effort to get everyone on the white effect. It felt very Penn State even though other teams ofc do white outs.

But hear me out..

We are in Blacksburg. We play Metallica. Night games in a hostile environment is how we broke into viewership and what won the hearts of all of college football fans. Out of the CFB teams who are doing a black out it should be us!

So imagine a black effect at night playing Metallica, a flyover goes by and shakes the stadium and 67k people are jumping losing their minds.

What do we think hokies?

The game — set for Saturday, Aug. 26 — will be the third straight year the Hokies open with an FCS opponent.

The game was the 4th annual BCA Classic. Entering the season ranked 11th, VT was the season-opening host of College Gameday. Shortly after the players ran on the field to Enter Sandman for the first time, the game was postponed due to torrential rain, hail, and lightning strikes nearby (Lee Corso's car was famously struck by lightning moments after he predicted VT would lose) and was later ultimately cancelled.

Selling multiple parking spots near Harrell Street for the VT vs. VMI game:

$65 for game day parking

$80 for the whole weekend.
Leave your car overnight and come and go as you please from (September 4th - 6th)

About a 7-10-minute walk to the stadium
Multiple spots available

DM me if you’re interested or want more details.

Howdy Hokies!

I'm coming to the season opener and it will be my first time to see Virginia Tech play.

Recommendations for parking, food, where to find friendly tailgates, or any pregame traditions to witness would be much appreciated.

We are staying in a nearby town, but anything we should do in Blacksburg that day? Anything cool happening between the two senior military colleges?

Appreciate the insight!

Virginia Tech added a former four-star recruit in the 2026 class, transfer Chris Tangelo, this week. The 6’4” safety he will practice with the Hokies but not be eligible to play until the 2027 season.

Pictured: Frank Loria

Defensive Back from 1965-1967.

Started in all games in which he was eligible at Virginia Tech, totaling 31 games. Two-time All-American in 1966-1967. Still holds the record for the longest punt return in Virginia Tech history at 95 yards. Still tied for most punt return TDs in a season in Virginia Tech history with 3. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. 

On November 14th, 1970, Loria was killed in the plane crash that killed most of Marshall University’s football team. He was only 23.

 His #10 was retired prior to the 1971 season, making it one of only four numbers fully retired by Virginia Tech football. 

With the season approaching, I wanted a better way to prepare than reading dozens of separate previews or listening to hours of podcasts, just to forget most of it by Week 1.

I started with a few, then more, then decided to expand to all P4 + ND. It ended up being more arduous than I anticipated, but also rewarding.

I have published the 2026 preseason primers for every ACC team, plus an ACC conference primer and Notre Dame.

They are mostly designed as quick references for watching games, with roster/coaching changes, 2025 context, advanced stats, schedules, players to know, and a small betting lens.

This is totally free and not self promotion. I was creating these for myself and friends and just thought others would find them interesting.

The only reason for a website was to make them more accessible than just sharing links to google drive.

https://cfb.drwhittier.com

Hope you enjoy!

Is there a reason why we don’t have White Effect shirts for this season? We used to do all three (Maroon, Orange and White) the past couple of years. We have an official White Effect game against ODU, but I haven’t found any leads on whether one will be offered this year… TIA!

Virginia Tech ranked 2nd nationally, 1st in ACC in average roster weight in 2026. All but one offensive lineman, and 9 defensive tackles weighing in at 300 lbs or more. Losey, Ferg, and the boys have been putting in work!!!

With just over a month remaining in the 2026 Major League Baseball season, former Hokie standout TJ Rumfield is on the cusp of a bit of history.
With 32 games left on the Rockies schedule, Rumfield needs just five RBIs to set a record for most runs driven in by a Virginia Tech alum in their rookie season.
Rumfield currently has 60 RBIs this season, just four behind Kerry Carpenter’s 64 from 2023.

The historic summer of the Virginia Tech wrestling program continued this past weekend as the Hokies brought home two gold medals from Aaron Seidel and Bo Bassett, along with a bronze from Ryan Burton, at the U20 World Championships in Slovakia.
The trio of Hokie wrestlers combined to 14-1 at the event and earned enough points between to three of them to outscore all but six countries at the event.

Upperclassmen continue to garner preseason accolades.

BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech defensive tackle, Kemari Copelandand tight end, Luke Reynolds have been named to the Senior Bowl Top 300 list, placing them among the top NFL Draft-eligible players in the country.
Copeland, is on the preseason watch lists for the Nagurski Award and the Outland Trophy after starting all 12 games last season, recording 48 tackles (11 solo) including 7.5 TFLs. The Virginia Beach, Virginia product led the Hokies with 4.5 sacks. The defensive tackle brings size, strength and physicality to Virginia Tech's defensive front and is expected to play a significant role for the Hokies in 2026.

Reynolds, on the Mackey Award watch list, played in 29 games over the last two seasons at Penn State, hauling in 26 receptions in 2025, for 257 yards. Known for his athleticism, versatility and ability to contribute as both a receiver and blocker, Reynolds gives the Hokies a dynamic presence in the passing game.