If you had asked any Virginia Tech fans which players from the 2025 roster they wanted to see return in 2026, running back Marcellous Hawkins would have been at the top of that list. In his first season at Virginia Tech, the Central Missouri transfer carried the ball 118 times for 749 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
Good news: Hawkins is returning for his final season.
Hawkins became the latest Hokie to announce his return via social media. Starting center Kyle Altuner also revealed he’d be back in 2026. Once the Hokies retained Matt Moore as offensive line coach, it made sense that Altuner and others would remain in Blacksburg.
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Here’s a current look at the players who’ve announced returns:
Redshirt freshman cornerback Joshua Clarke
Junior safety Jordan Bass
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Chanz Wiggins
Freshman safety Sheldon Robinson
Freshman running back Jeffrey Overton Jr.
Freshman cornerback Knahlij Harrell
Redshirt junior offensive lineman Brody Meadows
Redshirt junior running back Marcellous Hawkins
Redshirt freshman center Kyle Altuner
New head coach James Franklin likely knows who will remain in Blacksburg, and more announcements are expected until the NCAA transfer portal opens next week. Several of Franklin’s former players at Penn State have already announced their intentions to enter the portal. Virginia Tech will likely be aggressive once the portal opens, with a quarterback high on its list.
