Virginia Tech football landed nine Hokies on Phil Steele’s Preseason All-ACC teams. While preseason accolades do not guarantee on-field success, Virginia Tech’s nine honorees speak to the roster being a significant cut above last year’s 3-9 output.
- defensive lineman Kemari Copeland – Preseason All-ACC First Team
- wide receiver Que’Sean Brown – Preseason All-ACC Second Team (All-ACC Honorable Mention as kick returner)
- tight end Luke Reynolds – Preseason All-ACC Second Team
- offensive lineman Layth Ghannam – Preseason All-ACC Second Team
- running back Marcellous Hawkins – Preseason All-ACC Third Team
- defensive lineman Elhadj Fall – Preseason All-ACC Third Team
- linebacker Kaleb Spencer – Preseason All-ACC Third Team
- kicker John Love – Preseason All-ACC Honorable Mention
- long snapper Christian Epling – Preseason All-ACC Honorable Mention
9 Hokies land on Phil Steele’s Preseason All-ACC Team 👏#LetsGoHokiespic.twitter.com/2qPo7PvfyP
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) June 12, 2026
Copeland, Ghannam, Hawkins, Fall, Spencer, Love and Epling were each on last year’s Hokies roster, while Brown and Reynolds transferred from Duke and Penn State, respectively.
In 2025, Copeland logged 48 tackles, 11 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss and amassed a team-high 4.5 sacks — including a three-sack performance against Cal on Oct. 24. Copeland was named All-ACC Third Team last season and was one of only two Hokies to garner All-ACC honors (DT Kody Huisman; All-ACC Honorable Mention). He is the only returning all-ACC player.
As a redshirt sophomore at Duke, Brown started 12 games, finishing with 846 receiving yards and five touchdowns, finishing 17th in single-season receiving yardage for the Blue Devils. He also served as a punt returner for Duke, returning nine punts for 116 yards and one touchdown, which was against Elon in the season-opener. Against Arizona State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, he totaled 178 receiving yards on 10 catches, including the game-winning touchdown with 2:10 left…