Normally we do the Tight End and Wide Receiver roster review together, but this season, if some of the rumors are true this room might actually be a primary offensive tool in the playbook. The past decade, Tech has had some really good Tight Ends and did nothing with them. This season things just might be different.
The Room Might be Getting Gray Hair
The 2026 Hokies have no lack of depth at Tight End, and that’s a good thing. The problem comes in when the coaches have to deal with 2027 and 2028, because there are 3 Senior Day walkers
with 2 starters in the mix for 2026, and three Senior Day candidates for 2027. There will need to be a concerted effort to mine the portal and find high school recruits to keep the conveyor moving for this position. In fact, the coaches even moved Linebacker/STAR Brody Jones to the offensive side of the ball to pull in some extra hands for this roster.
It’s really difficult to gauge just who of the experienced players will start in any one game, but overall, the room has three starting quality Tight Ends, some really good backups who have also been solid Special Teams players, and there is a single true Freshman on the squad. The one thing to notice, here is the Penn State portal pickup count is significant for the room, in the future.
Probable Starters
Benji Gosnell – 2026 Football Roster – Virginia Tech Athletics
Benji Gosnell is more than likely to be a regular starter this season. Not only is it his final outing as a Hokie, but he also deserves a real chance to shine like he did in the 2024 season. Last year, the Hokie offensive line and offense in general was so stressed that Gosnell started all 12 games but only caught 12 balls for 86 yards. That means Gosnell was serving more as an extra Tackle than an actual receiver. That really wasn’t a fair representation or chance for him to show what he can do. His 2024 stats were right out of star territory with 32 receptions for 341 yards and 2 touchdowns. He averaged nearly 11 yards per catch during that season. Gosnell’s 2o23 season was almost as good, and even capped it off with big TD in the Military Bowl against Tulane.
This season, the new offensive coordinator needs to get the Tight Ends re-engaged in actually moving the ball down the field instead of keeping them in as extra blockers for last season’s emergency situation drills on third and impossible.
Ja’Ricous Hairston – 2026 Football Roster – Virginia Tech Athletics
Ja’Ricous Hairston was quietly inserted into the lineup last season and made quite a show of his chance to shine. After spending 2023 and 2024 gaining experience and playing Special Teams, Hairston ended up playing in all 12 games last season, had 112 yards in the stat book, with three touchdowns; one against Vanderbilt, and two against Georgia Tech. The team will have him on the field and get the ball to him. He’s got quick feet and good hands. He can really run those tough drag (crossing) routes, seams (tight end squats), and dig routes under the zone. It’s difficult to say if he will be a guaranteed starter for every game, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him start a few.
Luke Reynolds – 2026 Football Roster – Virginia Tech Athletics
Luke Reynolds is one of those big potential difference making transfers who came with the new coaching staff from a big program (Penn State). Reynolds is big but has wide receiver speed and played in all 13 of Penn State’s games grabbing 26 receptions for 257 yards. Reynolds had four starts and played 16 games for the Nittany Lions in 2024. He has solid experience and is also expected to be a regular starter depending on the offensive formation and play needs. He’s so good, in fact, that Reynolds has been placed on the John Mackey Watch List for potential post season accolades.
If Having Three Starting Quality Players isn’t Enough
As you scan down the potential starters, there are several players on this squad who have earned playing time or are good enough to make regular Special Teams assignments.
Harrison Saint Germain – 2026 Football Roster – Virginia Tech Athletics
Harrison Saint Germain has played in a total of 27 games since his Freshman year. He played one start and posted his best performance in the Military Bowl against Tulane. Saint Germain has been mostly a solid blocker supplementing a struggling offensive line for most of his collegiate career.
The future is building with Matt Henderson who transferred from Penn State and is actually from Tidewater (Powhattan). He’s a “Redshirt Freshman” with four years of eligibility remaining. Pierce Petersohn is a true Freshman with a long trip from Minnesota under his belt. We’ll see if the current staff can keep him given the automatic five-year eligibility conditions.
The Question: Will This Talent Be Used in 2026?
The statistics and a review of the 2024 and 2025 seasons is pretty obvious. The Tight End position was pretty much wasted for blocking in the 2025 offensive scheme. What’s also obvious is that Tech has had really excellent Tight Ends over the past several decades but often has no use for them other than as H-Backs and an extra Tackle or two. Here’s hoping that this offensive staff puts together a playbook that will use these talented receivers for more than the occasional emergency dump off.
