James Franklin & Virginia Tech land former ACC and Big 12 defensive lineman through Transfer Portal

Just when you thought that James Franklin was all set, adding to his roster through the Transfer Portal, think again. Franklin has brought in a new-looking coaching staff for the most part, but he has brought back former head coach Brent Pry to run his defense as he did at Penn State.

Truth be told, it wasn't surprising that he was brought back, given the close relationship that Franklin and Pry have. Franklin hired former Texas A&M defensive line coach Sean Spencer last month after the Aggies were eliminated from the first-round of the College Football Playoff by Miami. He comes to the Hokies with a very good reputation, and his impact should be felt right away.

Virginia Tech returns some key players along the defensive line, but they have added through the Transfer Portal. On Wednesday, Franklin added depth to Spencer's group when he got a commitment from a former Pittsburgh and Colorado defensive lineman.

Virginia Tech lands portal commitment from Samuel Okunlola

A three-star prospect coming out of high school, Samuel Okunlola committed to Pittsburgh but transferred to Deion Sanders and Colorado. After the 2025 season, the Massachusetts native, who hails from the City of Champions and the football hotbed of Brockton, hit the Transfer Portal and committed to Virginia Tech.

Okunlola played in 13 games for Colorado in 2024 and finished with 23 pressures and 31 tackles with seven for a loss and three sacks. In 2025, he played in the season opener against Georgia Tech, but suffered a season-ending injury.

Okunlola played at Thayer Academy in Braintree, Mass., and landed in the ACC out of high school with Pittsburgh before making the move to Boulder, Colorado. He has one year of eligibility remaining, but after being injured early in the 2025 season, he could apply for a medical redshirt for an extra year of eligibility after the 2026 campaign.