Luke Reynolds 2027 NFL Draft Early Profile
The Virginia Tech Hokies made a splash move by hiring former Penn State head coach James Franklin. Franklin had 12 transfers follow him from State College to Blacksburg. Let’s take a look at one of those aforementioned transfers with an early Luke Reynolds 2027 NFL Draft profile. Virginia Tech has regressed as a program over the past decade. The Hokies haven’t reached double-digit wins since 2016, and haven’t won the ACC since 2010. If Franklin is going to turn things around in year one, Reynolds and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer will have a key role. Reynolds has the potential to be one of the top tight ends in college football, but can he put everything together in 2026?
Luke Reynolds 2027 NFL Draft Early Player Profile
Measurables
Height- 6-foot-4
Weight- 250 pounds
Background
Reynolds was a five-star recruit coming out of Cheshire Academy (Connecticut) and was the top-ranked tight end in the Class of 2024. He committed to Penn State and appeared in all 16 games as a true freshman. Although Reynolds played in every game, he was in the same tight end room as Colts’ Pro Bowler Tyler Warren. His production was limited to nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown in 2024. Reynolds did show some flashes, having three catches for 53 yards and his lone touchdown of the season against Purdue. His biggest moment came on special teams, when he picked up 32 yards on a fake punt that helped ice a 26-25 win over Minnesota.
With Warren off to the NFL, it appeared that Reynolds would take a huge leap as a sophomore. While his production improved, he didn’t have the breakout season many expected. Reynolds had 26 catches for 257 yards across 13 games. He didn’t have any touchdowns and was held to no receptions in four games. The Nittany Lions’ season falling apart can explain the lack of production, with Franklin getting fired midseason and Steelers’ third-round pick Drew Allar suffering a season-ending broken ankle. Reynolds entered the transfer portal and followed his head coach to Virginia Tech.
Dec 27, 2025; Bronx, NY, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Luke Reynolds (85) gains yards after catch as Clemson Tigers linebacker Fletcher Cothran (50) and linebacker Jeremiah Alexander (35) pursue during the second half of the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Draft Strengths
The first thing that sticks out with Reynolds is his speed, which is elite for a tight end. He is excellent after the catch, using speed and physicality to make defenders miss. Reynolds does a good job of finding the soft spots in zone coverage and working to open grass. He has shown potential as a route runner, having the athleticism needed to work quickly out of breaks. Reynolds is alignment-versatile, as he splits reps out wide, in the slot, and in-line. He has above-average contested-catch production, having a 60% PFF win rate in that area over his first two seasons. Reynolds improved in both pass blocking and run blocking in 2025.
Draft Weaknesses
Reynolds’ production has been severely lacking to this point, having just one touchdown in 29 career games. Although he’s shown improvement as a blocker, a larger sample size is needed to ensure that isn’t an issue in his game. Drops were a bit of a problem for Reynolds last season, with three on 35 targets. Most of his targets were underneath throws, and he hasn’t proven that he can threaten defenses vertically.
Dec 27, 2025; Bronx, NY, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Luke Reynolds (85) gains yards after catch as Clemson Tigers linebacker Fletcher Cothran (50) and linebacker Jeremiah Alexander (35) pursue during the second half of the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Draft Overview
Every year, some prospects seemingly come out of nowhere and skyrocket up draft boards. Reynolds hasn’t gotten much buzz for the 2027 NFL Draft, but he can quickly change that with a strong outing in 2026. His combination of speed, athleticism, and abilities after the catch gives him great upside. If he can continue to improve as a blocker and be more productive in the passing game, Reynolds can be one of the top prospects at his position.
He should be in a better position to succeed than a year ago, and 2026 can be the breakout campaign that was expected in 2025. Reynolds currently projects as a day-three pick if he were to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft. If his production catches up with his physical traits, he can hear his name called on day two.
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