VT Offensive Line Showdown
Virginia Tech Football Coaches See Up to 12 Offensive Linemen Competing for Starting Roles This Season
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Virginia Tech offensive line coach Matt Moore has identified up to 12 players he believes can start when the Hokies open the 2026 season against VMI on Sept. 5, Martinsville Bulletin reported. That number reflects a massive turnaround for a unit that was forced to play three redshirt freshmen at the same time during a difficult 2025 campaign.
"We've got at least 10, if not 12 guys that we feel like could start for us," Moore said. "And that's what's going to be all summer — pushing them. Who's working harder?" The competition is the defining storyline of Virginia Tech's summer heading into new head coach James Franklin's first season in Blacksburg.
A Room Rebuilt After a Brutal 2025 Season
Last year's offensive line was "dealt a bad hand," according to Sports Illustrated. Injuries piled up fast. Moore had to throw freshman linemen into starting roles before they were ready. The unit still managed to average 182.4 rushing yards per game in 2025, but pass protection was a problem — sacks occurred on 7.5% of all dropbacks, a number the staff wants to cut by at least 2% in 2026.
Moore responded by raiding the transfer portal this offseason. He brought in four veteran linemen: Michael Troutman III from Penn State, Logan Howland from Oklahoma, Justin Bell from Michigan State, and Justin Terry from Ohio State. Combined with seven high school recruits, Virginia Tech added 11 new players to the room, according to 247Sports.
Johnny Garrett Moves Inside, Tackle Battle Wide Open
The biggest surprise of the spring was the position shift for Johnny Garrett, last year's starting left tackle. Moore moved the redshirt junior to guard with the second-team unit during spring practice, according to Sports Illustrated. Moore praised Garrett's "tremendous leadership" but made clear no spot is guaranteed.
The tackle spots are now the most hotly contested positions on the roster. 247Sports reported that five players have a "realistic chance" at the two starting tackle spots. Returning redshirt senior Montavious Cunningham — who missed most of 2025 with an injury — has shifted back to tackle after playing guard last season, adding another body to an already crowded competition.
Kyle Altuner Leads a Young Core With NFL Eyes Watching
Center Kyle Altuner is perhaps the steadiest piece of the group. The redshirt sophomore started all 12 games as a freshman in 2025, logging 793 snaps — the most of any Power Four freshman center that year, per 247Sports. Altuner is expected to anchor the interior line heading into fall camp.
NFL scouts are already circling. Moore has a proven track record of developing linemen for the pros — most recently Zach Frazier, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Wyatt Milum, with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sports Illustrated notes that Altuner and transfer Justin Terry are the two players scouts will watch most closely this season.
VMI Opener Doubles as a Live Audition for the Best Five
The Sept. 5 home game against VMI at Lane Stadium is more than just a season opener — it is a live tryout. Analysts expect Moore to rotate as many as 8 to 10 linemen during the game before a tougher road trip to Maryland on Sept. 19, according to roanoke.com.
Moore is the one constant in an otherwise overhauled program. New head coach James Franklin retained him through the coaching transition — the first time in six seasons a Virginia Tech offensive line coach has kept his job through a head-coaching change, per 247Sports. Franklin's offense runs on a dominant ground game, which means the line's success will likely define his entire first year in Blacksburg.
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