Portal Shopping: Ranking VT’s Wish List
Virginia Tech’s football program is gearing up for transfer portal season, ranking every position by priority: quarterbacks, cornerbacks, and offensive tackles top the list, followed by interior linemen, pass rushers, linebackers, receivers, safeties, tight ends, and defensive tackles. The goal is to fill immediate needs left by departures and bolster remaining strengths, all under James Franklin’s impatient yet ambitious vision to compete in the ACC next season.
It’s the retail therapy every coach dreams of—scouring the portal like it’s Black Friday at a football buffet. Forget building from the ground up; why not swipe right on a quarterback with a completion rate if the price is right? Franklin’s philosophy: if you can’t recruit ’em, ‘port em. Just don’t ask about the refund policy when chemistry goes south.
Grunkemeyer: VT’s Next Game Manager?
Penn State transfer Ethan Grunkemeyer, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound redshirt freshman, started seven games in 2025 after Drew Allar’s injury. He posted a 69.1% completion rate, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions on 1,348 yards, finishing strong with four straight wins, including a Pinstripe Bowl triumph over Clemson. Known for poise, decision-making, and game management, Grunkemeyer could offer Virginia Tech stability under center as they rebuild.
Move over gunslingers—Grunkemeyer’s the human version of vanilla ice cream: safe, dependable, and unlikely to offend. Franklin clearly craves a quarterback who won’t steal the spotlight but might steal a win or two. It’s a masterclass in mid-range ambition: don’t dazzle, just don’t die on third down.
Three Lessons From That OT Heartbreaker
Despite leading by double digits, Virginia Tech women’s basketball saw Miami storm back in the fourth quarter and overtime for a 75-67 upset. Key takeaways: Miami’s 6’6″ force Ra Shaya Kyle dominated late, VT’s hot three-point start fizzled out, and Carleigh Wenzel showed early confidence but fouled out in OT. The Hokies’ late-game fatigue and defensive lapses cost them dearly.
Ah yes, the triumphant trifecta: size wins, shooting cools, fouls rule. Analysts point out obvious patterns as if someone just invented gravity. Meanwhile, the players pick through the rubble of their lead like archaeologists, discovering buried turnovers and questionable rotations. Cocoa for the cold, folks—it’s going to be a long season.
Coach, Coaches, and Locker-Room Pep Talks
After the 75-67 overtime loss, VT coach Megan Duffy and players Carleigh Wenzel and Mackenzie Nelson addressed defensive breakdowns and shifts in Miami’s schemes. They highlighted missed easy shots, fatigue, switch defenses, and confidence swings. Duffy emphasized process, recovery, and sticking to values as the team prepares for the next challenge at Louisville.
Behold the sacred corporate mantra: process, values, fuel up, repeat. When in doubt, blame missed layups and praise recovery protocols. It’s like a team-building retreat disguised as a press conference—complete with inspirational buzzwords and morale-boosting clichés. Next up: mindfulness exercises at halftime.
Collapse in Cassell: From Comfort to Crisis
Leading by 18 in the third quarter, VT’s women’s basketball team watched a 99% win probability vanish as Miami outscored them 36-16 down the stretch and in OT. Defensive lapses yielded 46 points in the paint, Raven Raviv’s killer triple tied the game, and the Hokies committed eight turnovers in the final quarter. Miami’s resilience and VT’s freeze in overtime sealed the shocker.
Nothing like a 99% guarantee to remind you of life’s cruel humor. VT fans got front-row seats to the “Oops, Did We Do That?” show, complete with defensive souvenirs and scoring droughts. The only thing colder than Cassell Coliseum was VT’s offense in OT—time to install heating lamps or break out the hot cocoa during crunch time.
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