|
Good morning, Tech Fam. We can’t wait to see what the future brings with Dr. Linton leading the way!
What all are we covering in today’s edition, Hokies? Check it out below!
🦃 Leading The Way
🏀 Preseason Praise
🏈 Cool Hand Luke
✍️ And much, much more!
🦃 LEADING THE WAY
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors today appointed Richard Linton as the university’s 17th president. Linton will succeed Tim Sands, who will continue to serve as president until Linton assumes office at the beginning of the 2027 spring semester.
Linton, an alumnus who received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech, currently serves as president of Kansas State University.
“My 40-year journey in the land-grant system began at Virginia Tech,” said Linton. “Having earned three degrees here, the opportunity to return home and serve as president of my alma mater is a true honor. I look forward to reconnecting with the Hokie community and working together to build on Virginia Tech’s proud land-grant legacy, embrace new opportunities, and expand our impact across the commonwealth and beyond.”
🔼 Cool Hand Luke. Virginia Tech standout Que’Sean Brown has some company on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
This week, tight end Luke Reynolds was added to the award’s watch list, which annually recognizes the outstanding receiver in college football.
Reynolds became the first Virginia Tech tight end to record 100 or more receiving yards in back-to-back games with his efforts against Old Dominion (8 receptions, 108 yards) and Maryland (12 receptions, 107 yards). He has 41 catches for 431 yards and four touchdowns on the season, averaging 10.5 yards per reception.
🔼 Turning On The Jets. Speaking of Que’Sean Brown and watch lists, he added his name to another watch list, earning a spot on the Jet Award Watch List, which recognizes the nation's outstanding return specialist in college football.
A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Brown has nine punt returns for 210 yards, averaging 23.3 yards per return, the top mark nationally in the FBS. He also has one kick return for 24 yards.
🔼 Preseason Praise. After making an immediate impact in his first season at Virginia Tech, senior forward Amani Hansberry was named to the ACC's Preseason Second Team. Hansberry was Tech's leading scorer a season ago and earned ACC Honorable Mention accolades after his first season in maroon and orange.
In his first season with the Hokies, Hansberry earned a start in all 30 of his appearances. The team’s leading scorer, he averaged 14.3 points per game with an efficient 49.2% field goal percentage. His 7.4 rebounds per game ranked tenth in the conference and the Silver Spring, Maryland native’s eight double-doubles ranked fourth amongst ACC athletes.
🔼 Immeasurable Impact. Former Virginia Tech standout Bruce Arians, one of the most respected offensive minds in the game of football, was named the recipient of the American Heart Association’s 2027 Paul “Bear” Bryant Heart of a Champion Award, presented by Houston-based St. Luke’s Health, honoring his exceptional contributions to college football and the community.
The Heart of a Champion Award recognizes individuals whose notable contributions and positive influence have helped define the way we experience sports and who exemplify the characteristics for which Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant was known, including integrity, perseverance, determination and grit. The award is selected annually by the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards Executive Leadership Team, comprised of members of the Bryant family and community leaders who come together to support the campaign.
🔼 In The Know. Returning home from their trip out west, the Hokies are set to host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in a Homecoming matchup on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The contest marks the fourth consecutive home game in the 2026 season that will be played in front of a sold-out Lane Stadium. Hokie fans still seeking tickets can visit SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace of Virginia Tech Athletics.
The exciting week of Homecoming festivities in southwest Virginia is punctuated by Saturday’s matchup.
🏈 Five Things To Know: VT vs. Georgia Tech
🎙️ The Level Seven Podcast: Previewing The Matchup
🏈 First Look: VT vs. Georgia Tech
🎙️ Soundbites From The Weekly Press Conferences
🎟️ Buy Tickets Via SeatGeek For The Sold Out Matchup
🦃 INVEST TO WIN
Through the Invest to Win campaign, Virginia Tech is committed to building an athletics department that consistently competes on the national stage. That requires a financial model capable of supporting championship-level expectations. Virginia Tech is not waiting to see where the future of college athletics goes; we are investing in where we believe Virginia Tech Athletics belongs.
🤔 HOKIE TRIVIA
How many times did Amani Hansberry score 20+ points for the Hokies last season?
Got a guess?
Scroll to the bottom and find out!
📆 THE DAYS AHEAD
*all times are ET*
Thursday, Oct. 15
🎙️ Tech Talk Live at McClain's at First & Main @ 6pm | Listen
🎾 Women's Tennis at ITA Regional Championships (Lynchburg, Va.)
Friday, Oct. 16
👟 Cross Country at Virginia @ 10:30am
⚽️ Men's Soccer at Furman @ 6pm | ESPN+ | Live Stats
🏐 Volleyball vs. Virginia @ 6pm | ACC Network Extra | Live Stats
(Smithfield Commonwealth Clash)
⚽️ Women's Soccer vs. Virginia @ 7pm | ACC Network Extra | Live Stats
(Smithfield Commonwealth Clash)
⛳️ Women's Golf at Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
🎾 Women's Tennis at ITA Regional Championships (Lynchburg, Va.)
Saturday, Oct. 17
🏈 Football vs. Georgia Tech @ 3:30pm | ACC Network | Listen | Live Stats | Sold Out! Buy on SeatGeek (Homecoming / Maroon Effect)
⛳️ Women's Golf at Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
🎾 Women's Tennis at ITA Regional Championships (Lynchburg, Va.)
🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER
Answer: Four
🦃 Have a great one, Hokie Nation!
