Virginia Tech’s offensive line just got dealt a real gut punch, with senior tackle Johnny Garrett going down with an injury in practice. Garrett’s played in 35 career games for the Hokies, so losing that kind of experience right out of the gate is a significant blow. This unit has been a serious problem area for years, struggling to build and keep talent since Christian Darrisaw left in 2020. It’s tough when you’re trying to totally rebuild the trenches, and then you lose a veteran presence like that.
Franklin’s Aggressive O-Line Rebuild Is Already Underway
When James Franklin took over as head coach in November, his top priority was clear: fix the offensive line. He knew the Hokies hadn’t had a strong unit in a long time, especially with all the NIL era craziness. The man didn’t waste any time, either! Franklin smartly kept offensive line coach Matt Moore, a move that players and recruits absolutely loved. Moore was actually brought in before the 2025 season by former head coach Brent Pry, who’s now their defensive coordinator. Franklin went all out for the 2026 class, signing seven offensive linemen and then grabbing four more big bodies through the NCAA transfer portal. That’s how you make a statement: aggressive recruitment is the only way to get this line back to where it needs to be.
Altuner Is the Anchor, Cunningham Is Stepping Up Big
Even with Garrett sidelined, the Hokies still have some serious talent coming back. Redshirt sophomore center Kyle Altuner is the absolute anchor of this line, no doubt about it. He’s got All-American potential, and you just know he’s gonna be playing in the NFL eventually. He’s that good. Montavious Cunningham, a graduate student, has really stepped up his game over the past two years and is ready to be a full-time starter; he had a terrific offseason! Redshirt senior Layth Ghannam will be starting at one of the guard spots, and keep an eye on redshirt senior Brody Meadows. Aidan Lynch, a redshirt sophomore, is also battling for that right tackle spot. Losing Garrett hurts, but the improvement from Cunningham and the consistent presence of Altuner mean this line isn’t totally sunk.
New Blood Arrives Ready to Play
That transfer portal aggression is paying off, big time. Guys like Logan Howland from Oklahoma and Justin Terry from Ohio State could absolutely start right away. Seriously, whoever doesn’t win the left tackle job between those two will be the primary backup. If Cunningham slides over to guard, which he can do, then Howland and Terry could man both tackle positions. Michael Troutman III, a redshirt freshman from Penn State, is a solid pickup who should be Altuner’s backup center. They’ve also brought in three new freshmen tackles in Roseby Lubintus, Tyrell Simpson, and Maddox Cochrane, ready to develop for the future. This mix of experienced transfers and promising young talent is exactly what the Hokies need to finally build a consistent, dominant offensive line. It’s early, but the pieces are there to really turn this unit around!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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