The NCAA dead period is about to end, and recruiting will once again come front and center along the fast-approaching 2026 season. It will be James Franklin's first season as head coach at Virginia Tech.
Along with hitting the ground running in terms of turning a lot of things around in Blacksburg, including the roster and coaching staff, Franklin has also made a huge impact in recruiting. He has a Top 20 recruiting class in the Class of 2027, and time is going to turn to the Class of 2028. Franklin and quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien have made a quick impression on one of the top signal-callers in the rising junior class in Virginia.
Virginia Tech is leading the way early for a Class 2028 QB from Virginia
Four-star quarterback Anthony Turner told Chad Simmons of Rivals that "Virginia Tech is up there, and they are doing the best job recruiting me right now.'' The 6-foot-3, 197-pound standout from Virginia Beach has close to 20 offers, with Nebraska also in the mix. He is No. 303 on Rivals Industry Rankings.
NEW: Virginia Tech has emerged as the early frontrunner for 4-star QB Anthony Turner, @ChadSimmons_ reports🦃
— Rivals (@Rivals) July 31, 2026
“Virginia Tech is up there, and they are doing the best job recruiting me right now."
Details: https://t.co/6uIUaAiZcf pic.twitter.com/biVrHsfIhv
Turner is an elite quarterback, and this is going to test Franklin and O'Brien's recruiting in the Commonwealth. Franklin had success when he was at Penn State in recruiting in the DMV, and this is a recruiting battle that Franklin and O'Brien must win. There is no other way to put it. Keeping the top homegrown talent in Virginia is a must and this is a must. Also, this recruiting battle will be a quick turn of the page after the Hokies lost out on one quarterback in the Class of 2028 on Thursday night.
Four-star Trace Hawkins announced his decision, which came down to six schools: Kentucky, Vanderbilt, LSU, Duke, Clemson, and Virginia Tech. It was a recruiting battle that the Hokies were up against it and Hawkins picked Clemson. As it turns out, the Hokies may not have been high on his list as some thought, but having the Georgia native land in the ACC is not great.
However, given the circumstances after losing Hawkins, this is a quick pivot for Franklin and O'Brien. You knew that despite missing out on Hawkins, Franklin and O'Brien had something else in the works, and it's Turner. Look for Virginia Tech to make Turner a priority during his recruitment leading into his decision.
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