When Virginia Tech hired former Penn State head coach James Franklin to replace Brent Pry, it was a home run hire for the Hokies. Not many people outside of the completely misinformed Craig Carton thought this wasn't a massive hire.
Virginia Tech has been seen as a sleeping giant in the college football world, and it is begging to be woken up. If there is someone who can wake it up and wake it up quickly, it's Franklin. This will go down as one of the biggest hirings this cycle. Richard Johnson of CBS Sports likes the hire.
CBS Sports gives Virginia Tech high grades for hiring James Franklin
It is not every day that a coach like Franklin becomes a candidate for a program like Virginia Tech. However, when he became available, it made just too much sense for the school's search committee not to heavily pursue him. They did, and they landed him in mid-November. Richard Johnson of CBS Sports graded the coaching hires this cycle and nailed Virginia Tech's grade for hiring Franklin.
"The Hokies sought modernization and hired a coach capable of dragging them into the sport's current era. Franklin's personality should resonate in Blacksburg, and with Brent Pry back as defensive coordinator, he'll have support navigating Virginia Tech internal landscape in the new ACC. Grade: A,'' wrote Johnson.
There is no doubt that Franklin can get the Hokies relevant again and do it rather quickly. First off, the school is giving him the resources he needs. Second, and maybe the biggest reason, is that the Hokies are in the ACC. It's not the Big Ten, which has produced the last National champs, or the SEC. Heck, it's not even the Big 12. The ACC doesn't offer the major roadblocks the other conferences do.
Franklin has already nailed it in recruiting and through the Transfer Portal. He's already making impressions on the Class of 2027 recruits, with that cycle of recruiting heating up. Johnson is also right about Pry coming back. He did wonders as the DC at Penn State and could do the same with the Hokies' defense.