Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | FGM/FGA | LONG | XP | PTS | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 73-3vs VMI | 1/1 | 32 | 10/10 | 13 | |
| Wk 2 | W 44-21vs Old Dominion | 3/3 | 39 | 5/5 | 14 | |
| Total | 4/4 | 39 | — | 27 |
#17
John Love
Senior kicker for Virginia Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 192 lb · Spartanburg, SC · Spartanburg
Returning to Virginia Tech for 2026
The numbers
4
field goals · 2026
of 4 attempts · long of 39 · 27 points
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 FG, 5 XP, vs Old Dominion
Swing playSwung Marshall from 49% to 75% to win.Marshall at Virginia Tech · 31-14
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 kicker for Virginia Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Virginia Tech in 2022.
Buzz vs Tape
Rivals warmer than fans
The rival fanbase is unexpectedly warm on him relative to his own.
24.2own fans
53.3rival fans
Haven’t been watching our games for weeks and I was well and truly flabbergasted when I saw the 4/8 from 40+ yards graphic. John Love??!!? Is he ok lol
Also worth knowing:
John Love
Has the leg for a 55-yarder when the situation calls for it. John Love has played for two head coaches in five seasons at Virginia Tech. He has been named ACC Specialist Player of the Week two seasons running, most recently in 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- recognition record
His career
Nobody recruited him. He earned the honors anyway.
2022
- Signed with Virginia Tech3-star out of Spartanburg
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Virginia Tech
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
2 coaches2022–2025
Virginia Tech
Coaching transition mid-career: Brent Pry → James Franklin. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2022Virginia Tech3-8HC: Brent Pry · Balanced
2023Virginia Tech7-6HC: Brent Pry · Run-leaning
2024Virginia Tech6-7HC: Brent Pry · Run-leaning
2025Virginia Tech3-9HC: Brent Pry · Run-leaning
2026Virginia Tech2-0HC: James Franklin · Balanced, fast tempo
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Not enough tracked stats yet to summarize this season.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
James Franklin
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11/11 (100%) | 2/5 (40%) | 2/4 (50%) | |
| 2024 | 8/10 (80%) | 5/5 (100%) | 3/5 (60%) | |
| 2023 | 16/17 (94%) | 6/7 (86%) | -- | |
| Career | 35/38 (92%) | 13/17 (76%) | 5/9 (56%) |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 73–3
vs VMI
100 PCT · 32 LONG · 13 PTS
Dominant 70-point win at home against VMI.
With Q. Brown — 6 rec · 109 yds · 1 TD · E. Grunkemeyer — 224 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · 6 rush yds (2 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Has the leg for a 55-yarder when the situation calls for it.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Virginia Tech
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
PK · Virginia Tech
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +2 net (29 in / 27 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Virginia Tech · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #27 · 2026 recruiting class #30
DNA match
Player DNA
Big Leg
Has the leg for a 55-yarder when the situation calls for it.
K
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Matthew Dapore’s 2022 season.
87%match
All-Mountain West
Matches Matthew on
FG%
Longest make
Class year
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Colton Boomer's senior season at Boise State (2025).
60%match
Matches Colton on
Class year
FG%
Weight
Differs from Colton on
Longest make (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like John Love
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology