Kemari Copeland represented Virginia Tech on this year's preseason all-conference team. (Will Stewart)

Hokies defensive tackle Kemari Copeland was named to the 2026 All-ACC Preseason Team, the conference announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Copeland was Virginia Tech's lone representative on the ballot. He received 89 of the 188 media votes, the second-most at defensive tackle behind Miami's Ahmad Moten Sr. (126).

He was a Third Team All-ACC selection last season after leading the team with 4.5 sacks. He totaled 48 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss, too, along with an interception against Wofford.

Copeland's best performance of the year came in the double overtime win over Cal in October, when he became the first Tech defensive tackle to rack up three sacks in a game since J.C. Price, his former position coach, did so in 1995.

The Virginia Beach native is in his third season with the Hokies after beginning his career at Army and Iowa Western Community College.

In 2024, he broke the program's all-time squat record with 10 reps at 605 pounds. Less than a week ago, he added another notch to his belt, breaking Tech's all-time bench press record at 510 pounds.


<script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Miami, the media's preseason pick to win the league, led the way with nine players on the preseason team (out of 27 positions). That included Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, and wide receiver Malachi Toney, a Second Team All-American last year as a true freshman.

Toney actually received more overall votes than Mensah — 164 to 112 — but was not an option for media members when voting for the player of the year. Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (127) and Moten Sr. (126) also had more votes.

Clemson and Virginia had the second-most players on the team with four apiece. Tigers linebacker Sammy Brown received the second-most overall votes at 139.

Louisville and SMU each had two players on the preseason squad, while Boston College, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Virginia Tech each had one.

State Farm

This Content is Presented by State Farm

Go with a good neighbor! The State Farm® mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams.

Five different State Farm agents are sponsoring Tech Sideline, providing coverage over six contiguous states: VA, MD, WV, TN, NC, and PA. Click here to see the list and to find your agent today!

State Farm