Monica: You just lost to Clemson on the road in a defensive struggle, but somehow you’re sitting at 6-2 and fourth in the ACC. That is not how the script was supposed to go for Virginia Tech. Frank, I thought we were talking about playoff contention last week, and now? Now we’re looking at roster battles that could define whether those nine wins happen or if the season implodes in November.
Frank: It’s wild, Monica. We said it yesterday, and I’ll say it again: Ethan Grunkemeyer has been efficient, sure. But efficiency doesn’t win close games against top-tier defenses if your supporting cast fractures. The Hokies are walking a tightrope. You have depth chart issues at quarterback behind him, a running back room that feels crowded but lacks a clear bell cow, and a wide receiver group that is basically a free-for-all right now.
Monica: So today, we are doing a full roster battle audit. In Segment One, we’re looking at the most critical spot: the backup quarterback situation and what happens if Grunkemeyer gets banged up. In Segment Two, we’re diving into the wide receiver chaos—who is actually starting next to Que'Sean Brown? And in Segment Three, we’re predicting who makes the final cut at running back before the bowl window opens. Let’s get into it.
Monica: Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Ethan Grunkemeyer went 20 for 32 against Clemson for 156 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. But here is the scary part: look at the depth chart. Behind him, you have Bryce Baker and Troy Huhn. Neither of these guys has significant game experience under center for this team. If Ethan goes down, who is taking the snaps?
Frank: That is the single biggest vulnerability on this roster. When you look at Bryce Baker, you see a prospect with upside, but he’s raw. He hasn’t shown he can read complex coverages at this speed. Troy Huhn is even more unproven. What worries me isn't just their inexperience; it's the lack of institutional knowledge. Grunkemeyer knows the timing routes, he knows the protection calls. If you plug in Baker, you’re going to see slower decision-making, and against a team like SMU, that gets punished quickly.
Monica: Right. And remember, we projected earlier this week that Grunkemeyer stays the starter through conference play because he’s healthy. But 'healthy' is a relative term when you have no safety net. Did you see the stats from the Clemson game? He only had 156 passing yards. That’s low volume. Does that mean the coaches are protecting him because they don’t trust the backups? Or does it mean the offense is just struggling to generate explosive plays without him?
Frank: I think it’s both. Look at the personnel grouping. You saw a lot of empty sets and quick slants. That’s a risk-mitigation strategy. They aren’t asking Grunkemeyer to progress through deep reads because if he holds the ball, the pocket collapses. Will Heldt got two sacks for Clemson. Jason Abbey got one for VT, which was huge, but the pressure was there. If you put a rookie quarterback like Baker in there, he’s going to hesitate. And hesitation leads to turnovers. We’ve seen that trend all year.
Monica: So, my take is that the coaching staff is terrified of touching that depth chart until absolutely necessary. They are riding Grunkemeyer hard. But here’s the question for you: if Grunkemeyer sits out even half a game, do you go with Baker or Huhn? Who gives you the best chance to keep the drive alive?
Frank: I’d lean toward Bryce Baker simply because of his arm talent and mobility. Troy Huhn looks like he’s still trying to figure out his footwork in the drop. Baker can extend the play. If the structure breaks down, Baker can scramble for a first down. Huhn might just throw the ball away. In a close game against SMU, you need that improvisation. But let’s be real—it’s a coin flip between the two, and both are likely to struggle compared to Grunkemeyer.
Monica: Okay, so we agree: Grunkemeyer is untouchable unless forced. That puts the pressure on the skill positions to carry the load. Which brings us to the next battle. We know Que'Sean Brown had five receptions for 69 yards against Clemson. He’s the clear number one. But who is the number two? The wide receiver room is stacked on paper but fragmented in practice.
Frank: It’s a mess. You have Keylen Adams, L.J. Booker, A.J. Brand, Davion Brown, Tyseer Denmark, Jeff Exinor Jr., Ayden Greene, Takye Heath, Drew Hube, Marlion Jackson, and Shamarius Peterkin. That’s twelve receivers. Twelve! How do you possibly evaluate that? Against Clemson, Tyler Brown got eight catches for 62 yards for the Tigers. We need a VT receiver to step up and match that consistency. Right now, nobody has separated themselves.
Monica: I’m seeing a lot of buzz around Keylen Adams. He’s been physical in practice. But then you look at L.J. Booker, who has the route-running pedigree. And don’t forget about A.J. Brand, who seems to show up in big moments occasionally. Frank, if you had to name the starter alongside Que'Sean Brown for the SMU game, who is it?
Frank: I’m going to go with L.J. Booker. Why? Because against Clemson, Grunkemeyer needed reliable hands in the middle. Booker offers that security. Adams is more of a vertical threat, which is great for spacing, but Booker’s ability to win after the catch is what keeps drives alive. I think Booker edges out the others because of his football IQ. He’s not flashy, but he’s consistent. And in a 20-16 type game, consistency wins.
Monica: I can see that. Booker is the safe pick. But here’s the thing—SMU is fast. They have speed all over the field. Do you want the safe pick, or do you want the guy who can stretch the field? Maybe Keylen Adams is the better fit against a defense that likes to play aggressive man coverage. It’s a classic coach’s dilemma.
Frank: True. But if Adams can’t get open in the short area, you’re putting too much pressure on Grunkemeyer to make magic. I stick with Booker as the primary slot or outside starter, and maybe Adams comes in on third-and-long to exploit that speed mismatch. It’s not an either/or, but Booker feels like the foundational piece right now.
Monica: Before we move on to the running backs, I need to ask you guys something. This show is brought to you by listeners like you who love college football as much as we do. To keep our daily research sharp, our editing tight, and this feed running every single day, we need your help. If you can spare a few bucks for coffee, please use the link in the episode description. It literally fuels the work we do. Thank you.
Frank: We appreciate every single one of you. Seriously. It allows us to dig deeper and bring you these roster battles without cutting corners. Thanks for keeping the Beatline Network alive.
Monica: Alright, let’s talk about the ground game. Or rather, the lack of a clear ground game identity. Jeffrey Overton Jr. had ten carries for 26 yards against Clemson. That’s 2.6 yards per carry. That is not sustainable. You have John Buetow, Bill Davis, Marcellous Hawkins Jr., Tyler Mason, and Messiah Mickens also on the roster. Who is the real lead back?
Frank: This is the most confusing position group on the team. Overton is young, but he’s getting crushed. John Buetow has size, but does he have burst? Bill Davis is speedy, but can he handle the volume? Marcellous Hawkins Jr. is versatile. Tyler Mason is a power runner. Messiah Mickens is a change-of-pace guy. It feels like the coaches are throwing darts at a board.
Monica: Exactly. And it shows in the game plan. You’re not establishing the run, so the defense can focus entirely on stopping Grunkemeyer. That’s why the passing yards were low. If you can’t run the ball, you can’t control the clock. Against SMU, you need someone to eat up downs. Who do you think steps up?
Frank: I think Marcellous Hawkins Jr. is the guy who will get the bulk of the touches. He has the size to absorb contact and the vision to find holes. Overton needs to develop, but Hawkins looks more polished in terms of pass protection, which is crucial when you have inexperienced quarterbacks. If Grunkemeyer is playing, you need a back who can block.
Monica: So Hawkins is the bell cow in waiting? What about John Buetow? He’s been around longer. Sometimes experience matters in high-pressure situations.
Frank: Buetow is good, but Hawkins’ versatility gives him the edge. If you’re facing a blitz-heavy team like SMU might be, Hawkins can stay in and protect. Buetow might need to be subbed out. So, Hawkins starts, Buetow provides relief, and Overton continues to develop. That’s the most logical path forward.
Monica: I agree. The rushing attack is a major concern. If they can’t fix this, the offense becomes one-dimensional. And we know one-dimensional offenses struggle against top-five defenses. This is a roster battle that will be decided in practice this week.
Frank: No doubt. And if they don’t find a solution, the burden falls even harder on Ethan Grunkemeyer and the receiving corps. It’s all connected. Weaknesses expose each other.
Monica: Let’s pivot to the offensive line. With Kyle Altuner, Lucas Austin, Justin Bell, Marlen Bright, Maddox Cochrane, Gavin Crawford, Montavious Cunningham, Benjamin Eziuka, Johnny Garrett, Layth Ghannam, Elijah Haughawout, Logan Howland, Roseby Lubintus, Aidan Lynch, and Brody Meadows... that is a massive group. Who are the starters?
Frank: The line is generally solid, but the rotation is deep. Justin Bell and Lucas Austin seem to be locks at tackle. Inside, it’s a mix of Gavin Crawford and Marlen Bright. The key is health. If they can keep the unit together, they can create enough space for Hawkins and Grunkemeyer. But if injuries hit, the depth means they can shuffle pieces without losing a step. That’s a luxury many teams don’t have.
Monica: So the O-line is a strength, not a weakness? That’s a relief. Usually, when the skill positions are struggling, the line takes the blame. But here, it seems like the scheme and the execution are the issues, not the blocking itself.
Frank: Correct. The blocking numbers aren’t terrible. It’s just that the runners aren’t breaking tackles often enough, and the QB isn’t getting time to wait for routes to develop. It’s a combination of factors. But the line itself is competent and experienced.
Monica: Good to know. At least we have one anchor point. Now, let’s look at the tight ends. Benji Gosnell, Ja'Ricous Hairston, Matt Henderson, and Brody Jones. Are they involved in the passing game?
Frank: They are used sparingly. Benji Gosnell is the primary target in the red zone. Matt Henderson is more of a blocker. Ja'Ricous Hairston is a developmental piece. They aren’t driving the offense, but they provide a safety valve. Against Clemson, Luke Reynolds caught two passes from Grunkemeyer. That’s the level of involvement we expect from the TE room.
Monica: Okay, so TEs are role players. Got it. Moving on to defense. Jaquez White had 11 tackles against Clemson. Corey Myrick had 9 for Clemson. Who are the defensive leaders for VT?
Frank: Jaquez White is clearly the heart of the defense. 11 tackles is huge. Jason Abbey with one sack showed he can disrupt the backfield. The secondary is young, but they held Clemson to 16 points. That’s a testament to their discipline. They didn’t give up big plays. That’s how you win ugly.
Monica: So the defense is holding strong. It’s the offense that is finding its footing. This creates a dynamic where the Hokies can stay in every game, but they need the offense to score more than 20 points consistently to win the big ones. Can they do that?
Frank: If they solve the running back issue and stabilize the receiver depth, yes. They have the talent. They just need cohesion. We’ll see if that clicks before SMU.
Monica: Let’s wrap this up with some roster-cut predictions. It’s late October. Bowl eligibility is within reach. Who is trending up and who is trending down? Start with the wide receivers. Who is in danger of losing their scholarship or spot?
Frank: Shamarius Peterkin and Drew Hube are on the bubble. They haven’t made a significant impact yet. If they don’t produce in the next two weeks, they might be sidelined. On the other hand, L.J. Booker and Keylen Adams are trending up. They are earning reps. Ayden Greene is also moving up the chain.
Monica: And at running back? Jeffrey Overton had a rough game. Is he in trouble?
Frank: Overton isn’t in immediate danger, but the pressure is on. Marcellous Hawkins is trending up rapidly. He’s showing the versatility the coaches want. Tyler Mason is also gaining traction as a power option. John Buetow is stable but not rising. Hawkins is the one to watch.
Monica: What about the quarterback bench? Bryce Baker vs. Troy Huhn. Who survives the cutdown?
Frank: Bryce Baker. His arm strength and mobility make him more valuable as a emergency option. Troy Huhn might be waived if they need a scholarship spot elsewhere. Baker stays. He’s the project they believe in.
Monica: So, final roster snapshot: Grunkemeyer at QB, Baker as backup. Booker and Adams at WR. Hawkins at RB. Line is solid. Defense is gritty. Does this team finish 9-0 in the ACC?
Frank: 9-2 overall, 7-1 in the ACC. I think they win out against the lower-tier teams and split with the top two. That gets them to nine wins. It’s realistic.
Monica: I agree. Nine wins is the floor. If the roster battles click, it could be ten. But for now, we stick with nine. Frank, any final thoughts on the SMU game?
Frank: Watch the running backs. If Hawkins can get 100 yards, VT wins easily. If they stall, it’s a grind. Mark that stat.
Monica: There you have it. The Hokies are 6-2, fourth in the ACC, and staring down some critical roster decisions. Grunkemeyer is the anchor, but the depth chart is shaking. Subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network wherever you listen. Share this with a fellow Hokie fan. Go Hokies!
Frank: Thanks for listening. We’ll see you next time.