There is no down-time when it comes to the current construction of the college football schedule. The Virginia Tech Hokies announced the hiring of James Franklin, embarked on a two-week sprint to Signing Day in early December, began filling out their coaching staff, and now transition into a period of roster retention and addressing their 2026 roster with the NCAA Transfer Portal window around the corner.
Related: James Franklin Virginia Tech Coaching Staff Tracker: Latest Hires & Updates
Even as the Hokies missed out on a bowl game, the College Football world continues to be altered by declarations of players returning to their schools, while select players across the country have announced their intentions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. This critical period of time has provided new head coach James Franklin with the necessary information to construct his 2026 roster.
The NCAA adopted a one-time Transfer Portal window, effectively eliminating the Spring window, and creates a single 10-day period in January. The Portal window will open up one day after the Quarterfinals of the College Football playoffs, on Friday, January 2 and run through Monday, January 12. While players can announce their intentions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, official roster movement and signed paperwork can only be completed during the 10-day window.
Virginia Tech has already had several entrants to the NCAA Transfer Portal. According to previous NCAA Rules, the Portal window opens one day after a coach is dismissed, which meant Virginia Tech had a special window opened from Monday, September 15 through Wednesday, October 15, because of the firing of then head coach Brent Pry. The move has since been modified for coach firings moving forward.
Those five players included CB Dante Lovett, WR Tucker Holloway, LB Michael Short, DL Keyshawn Burgos, and DB Christian Ellis, who can officially make their future decisions in the January window.
The Hokies have also had several players announce their intentions to return to Virginia Tech under James Franklin.
Here is all the latest roster news as it pertains to the Virginia Tech Hokies in their 2026 roster construction:
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OVERVIEW
Announced Returning (9): RB Jeffrey Overton Jr., OL Brody Meadows, DB Sheldon Robinson, LB/DB Jordan Bass, RB Marcellous Hawkins, OL Kyle Altuner, CB Knahlij Harrell, CB Joshua Clarke and WR Chanz Wiggins
NCAA Portal Departures (2): DL James Djonkam, QB Garret Rangel
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The 247Sports’ NCAA Transfer Portal Database can be found here.
VTScoop will post all news regarding the NCAA Transfer Portal concerning the Virginia Tech Hokies including latest updates, transfer portal implications, player retentions and all other relevant stories.
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