I expect Huhn to be the backup next year. What do you think?
Huhn's skill set is very similar to Grunkemeyer which means the offense could continue to operate without changing the scheme to accommodate Baker. Just my opinion
37 Replies
5mo
Reason being that Baker is a different style of QB and it would make the defense have to change how they would approach attacking the offense in a short time depending on when he would have to come in the game.
(In response to this post by MKD)
5mo
by "Next Year" you meant 2027, not "next football season" (2026). In 2026, I would put the Backup QB role at 75% Baker, 15% Grunk, 10% Huhn (as I'd certainly expect Huhn to redshirt BUT things are different in portal-world so maybe not)
(In response to this post by MKD)
5mo
would have been easy to answer with some level of certainty. VT just watched their two most experienced QB's (well, only experienced QB's) on the roster portal-out while we sat anxiously awaiting word that thankfully we received, twice. The only answer I would DARE to offer is Grunk OR Baker OR Huhn will START at QB in 2027 and we have no idea if the other two will even stay at VT. I'd say Huhn is the more likely 2027 backup. How about the following prediction for 2027 Backup QB on day 1 (making no assumption regarding who the starter will be or who will portal-out): Huhn - 50%, Baker - 30%, Grunk - 10%, Someone else - 10%
(In response to this post by MKD)
5mo
(In response to this post by MKD)
F
Flanker
5mo
Pry never had the two competing QB's on the same team in the Spring game so it was harder to figure out which QB was better. It just made me think that Drones was the guy no matter what and that's how it went down. I want to see how the top two QB's perform behind the same line with the same receivers.
(In response to this post by MKD)
5mo
I did see Huhn's highlight film. I take high school highlight film with a grain of salt. Very impressive. And when he broke containment and headed down the sideline showed really impressive wheels. I think/hope we're in good shape going forward.
(In response to this post by MKD)
5mo
having to choose between a 2005 Madeleine Stowe and Monica Bellucci. Sheez even in Welcome to Derry Ingrid/Periwinkle is still smokin throwing the fooseball well at 67....except her dad is kind of a jerk
(In response to this post by MKD)
5mo
That would put only one year of separation between the two.
(In response to this post by MKD)
5mo
And you can play in 4 games without burning a redshirt. If it actually happened, I think you would just want to be careful how you manage garbage time.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
roster so there is 2 years between the current starter and when the current heir apparent is scheduled to become the next starting QB? It seems to me the risk of the heir apparent transferring after 1 season and/or a future HS/portal recruit surpassing the heir apparent may be a bigger curveball to the plan. At least the chance of the 2-year plan coming to fruition may now be under 50% for various reasons.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
Keeping a guy with two years of separation is easier than keeping a guy with one year of separation. There's a better chance of keeping Huhn if he redshirts than if he doesn't.
** Edited by Chris Coleman at 2/5/2026, 1:56:34 PM
** Edited by Chris Coleman at 2/6/2026, 10:26:04 AM
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
5mo
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
L
Lumbee09
5mo
He's always relied on recruiting HS QBs, developing them, and utilizing them for multiple years.
2013-15 - Hackenburg
2016-18 - McSorley
2019-22 - Clifford
2023-25 - Allar
2026-28? - Grunkemeyer
That's a long trend of multi-year starting QBs that were recruited out of HS. Compare that to VT's QB's over the same time period and it's been a vastly different approach with very mixed results.
Of course, between those guys you'll get some players like Pribula who are stuck behind an established QB like Allar and transfer playing time.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
play 9 games and still redshirt. If it passes, then coaches may go into the season with 2 #2. 2a could be the heir apparent that plays 9 games and 2b is the backup for the remaining games including postseason games. I don't know if the rule will be in place next season or not so VT could take advantage of it with Huhn. At the very least it would bring an interesting dynamic to roster management and how coaches approach the QB position moving forward.
** Edited by VTHokie2000 at 2/5/2026, 9:41:42 PM
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
I’d be quite surprised if he is #2 in the fall.
(In response to this post by MKD)
5mo
because he will be a true freshman. Huhn is a more natural passer than any QB we've ever landed coming out of high school.
I haven't gone back to look at Grunkmeyer's high school film but that's a false comparison since we're talking about who will be #2 and Grunkmeyer will almost certainly be #1 if healthy.
(In response to this post by marcbvtgm)
5mo
Just because you don't understand the comparison, that doesn't make it a false comparison.
Baker (who also wasn't ready to be #2 at UNC), on the other hand, doesn't look more advanced than Huhn as a passer to me in their respective HS film, but it's not that different and Huhn is less athletic - and doesn't have the benefit of a year in a P4 program.
So I don't see Huhn being #2 in 2026. After that...does it really matter these days?
** Edited by marcbvtgm at 2/5/2026, 4:05:37 PM
(In response to this post by goodbadugly)
5mo
Baker is a pass first QB that was rated higher than Huhn coming out of HS. To be honest I don't think Franklin would have even pursued Baker if he viewed him as a different type of QB than Grunk and Huhn. Huhn, could very well beat Baker out, but I don't think it's a given. If it's a close competition they would probably prefer to redshirt Huhn IMO. I'm glad we are getting away from having a mix of different types of QBs on the roster.
(In response to this post by MKD)
5mo
However, I can admit he is better at running than Huhn and Grunk. With that said he isn't someone that would scare teams with his running ability. I will just come out and say it. I think fans sometimes vastly overrate the mobility of black QBs and underrate the running ability of white QBs. Personally I thought Grant Wells was much more mobile than advertised, he certainly had better wheels than say Josh Jackson. Also Pop Watson was just okay as a runner IMO. Yes, Baker can run a bit, but he is a passer. He isn't anything like Drones and Quincy Patterson. Two guys that were probably always a bit of a project at QB, but they have size and arm strength so they get highly ranked based on potential. I hope we're done bringing in QBs like that. Although one could argue that Logan Thomas turned out well as a college QB, so sometimes a project pans out.
** Edited by TekkNerd at 2/5/2026, 4:42:37 PM
(In response to this post by marcbvtgm)
5mo
didn't get any playing time at UNC? All of the quarterbacks who were ahead of him on the depth chart played very poorly in my opinion, so I'm just curious why he didn't even get a single snap. Thanks
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
R
RJHokie
5mo
(In response to this post by MKD)
5mo
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
I've never seen either him or Huhn throw a football in person.
The first time I saw Bucky Hodges throw a ball in person, I knew he wouldn't be a college QB. But I don't think I knew that 100% until I saw it in person.
It's all a bunch of new dudes who I don't know much about. Gun to my head, I'd pick Baker, but I wouldn't rule out anyone, though I think Brand has a lower chance than the others.
** Edited by Chris Coleman at 2/5/2026, 12:35:39 PM
(In response to this post by MKD)
5mo
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
5mo
Huhn is a three star, does that mean he is the next Baker Mayfield? I have no idea. I just don't think it will be easy for Huhn to beat Baker out and he will likely redshirt.
(In response to this post by Windows NT)
5mo
plenty of 3 stars on the east coast, but Franklin wants 3 star Huhn from the west coast.
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
5mo
At least he was until he committed & signed with VT. That alone usually drops their ratings (not even joking)
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
5mo
I'm hoping Bryce Baker (sp?) surprises
(In response to this post by MKD)