Virginia Tech’s special‑teams unit for the 2026 season is being reshaped around three essential roles: the place kicker, the punter and the long snapper. The coaching staff believes that a focused approach to these positions will help restore the program’s tradition of special‑team excellence.
Key Positions and Players
John Love is slated to return as the primary kicker, bringing a reputation for accuracy inside the 35‑yard line and a willingness to attempt long-range shots. Nathan Totten, a redshirt junior transfer from Marshall, is expected to handle punting duties after a 2024 season that featured 19 punts traveling over 50 yards and 20 placed inside the 20‑yard line. Christian Epling, a redshirt senior, will anchor the long‑snapper position, a role he has held for the past two years and one that is crucial for clean snaps on field goals and extra‑point attempts.
The depth chart includes freshmen Cole Byrd and Will Love, the latter being the younger brother of John Love, as backup options. Both newcomers have limited collegiate experience, making their development a key storyline for the coaching staff.
Coaching Vision
Doug Shearer, who previously served as the team’s special‑teams coordinator, now leads the unit with a blend of bowl‑game experience and a collaborative staff that includes assistants Pat Shepard and Greg Wood. Their collective aim is to inject energy into a group that has seen its prominence wane in recent seasons.
Despite the unit’s modest size, the staff is confident that disciplined execution can offset roster limitations. The first test will come in the season opener against VMI, followed by a matchup with ODU, where the performance of the kicker, punter and snapper will be closely watched.
How the special‑teams unit performs in those early contests may well determine the Hokies’ ability to win tight games, a factor that could ultimately influence the trajectory of the entire season.