After James Franklin was hired at Virginia Tech, it wasn't a case of if any players would likely follow him to Blacksburg from Penn State, but how many and who?
In this day and age of the coaching carousel and the Transfer Portal, players tend to follow coaches to new jobs. It's nothing new. Gone are the days of committing and player your while college career at one school for the name of the school. It's all about relationships.
In the end, there was a handful of players who went from State College to Blacksburg, and maybe two of the bigger names were quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer and tight end Luke Reynolds. Both should make a big impact this season, but Reynolds is someone who could make an impact that Hokies fans haven't seen in a while.
CBS Sports says what should be music to Virginia Tech football fans' ears about Penn State transfer Luke Reynolds
The tight end position feels like it's been a lost position for the Hokies. However, whether you agree with them or not, things are changing and changing quickly under Franklin and new offensive coordinator Ty Howle. The tight end position is one that is going to be used and used a lot, with Reynolds and others.
"A prized recruit for James Franklin and Penn State two cycles ago, Reynolds followed the Penn State staff to Virginia Tech. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound former five-star had a solid sophomore campaign for Penn State a year ago with 26 catches for 257 yards and is now set to be a major factor for Franklin in his first season with the Hokies. Based on his 2025 Penn State tape, NFL scouts already view Reynolds as a possibility to go in the early rounds of next year's NFL draft,'' Hummer and Zenitz wrote.
A tight end in Blacksburg that is a possibility to go on the early rounds of next April's draft. Virginia Tech fans should be in seventh heaven. It sounds like he could take his game to another level in 2026 with the Hokies.
"With the amount of usage he's about to get, he has All-American upside," a source said to CBS Sports.
Reynolds can't get enough usage. Not only does Franklin have him this season, but he's got some retention from Benji Gosnell and Ja'Ricous Hairston. The latter made some big plays at times last season for the Hokies. The tight end position is about to go to another level in Blacksburg.
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