James Franklin has been on the job for 16 days at Virginia Tech, and he is already making some major waves in recruiting. He brought the Hokies from near the bottom of FBS recruiting rankings at most outlets to a Top 25 class in just seven days.
How did he do it? He did it by flipping a lot of his former Penn State recruits and grabbing recruits from Kentucky and Wisconsin. Virginia Tech fans are hoping that he can pull off the same magic when it comes to the Transfer Portal next month. You have to think that Franklin will improve the team for 2026, but what message is he sending for the future with this recruiting class?
James Franklin sends message about the future of Virginia Tech football
If there is one thing to take away from this recruiting class and Franklin, he's not messing around. He didn't waste time grabbing most of his commits at Penn State and locking them in at Virginia Tech. This is a talented and promising group, and Franklin didn't mince words when it comes to the future in Blacksburg.
“We grew up with a Virginia Tech that was kickin’ butt and taking names, and this is gonna be the type of class and the type of young men that are gonna help us restore that,'' Franklin said.
Truth be told, this is something that fans have been asking for years, and if there is someone who can make it become reality, it's Franklin. It wouldn't be surprising to see some of the Class of 2026 make an impact as early as next year, but thinking of what could be in a few years has to be music to fans' ears.
Penn State's loss is quickly turning into Virginia Tech's gain, and Franklin is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. He needs to round out his staff, and he has work to do in the portal, but the future is certainly bright at Tech.