After Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry as head football coach back in September, there was no debating that the school needed to nail the next hire. After Frank Beamer's tenure ended, things haven't gone as well as fans would have hoped under both Justin Fuente and Pry.
Many believed that Virginia Tech was a sleeping giant just waiting to be woken up. However, in order to do that, the school needed to nail the hire that the search committee set out for. Then, a month after Pry was hired, James Franklin was fired at Penn State, and he became the top candidate to be the next coach in Blacksburg.
In November, he was officially hired as head coach at Virginia Tech, and there was an immediate excitement surrounding the Hokies' program. With all the success Franklin had at Vanderbilt and Penn State and turning those programs around, it's only a matter of time before he does it in Blacksburg. Adam Rittenberg of ESPN ranked the 68 Power 4 conference programs through the 2027 season. As you would have thought, the Hokies made a huge jump under Franklin to No. 34 from 46.
ESPN ranks Virginia Tech in the middle of Power 4 conference teams through the 2027 campaign
It didn't take Franklin long to put his stamp on the Hokies' program. There was a big roster turnover and a heavy effort made in recruiting. However, Franklin targeted some players in the Transfer Portal who could potentially be around in Blacksburg for multiple years. One of those players is quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who followed Franklin to Virginia Tech.
"Ethan Grunkemeyer picked Penn State to play for James Franklin, but didn't log significant playing time until after Drew Allar's injury and Franklin's firing in October. Following a solid finish to last season (no interceptions in the last four games), Grunkemeyer rejoined Franklin at Virginia Tech, where he's set to lead the offense for the next few years,'' wrote Rittenberg.
Two years of Grunkemeyer at Virginia Tech would be huge. That would certainly raise the Hokies a level; however, it isn't the only addition expected to make an immediate impact. Tight end Luke Reynolds is expected to be a big part of new offensive coordinator Ty Howle's offense, as is Duke wide receiver Que'Sean Brown.
More importantly, Franklin's success in recruiting speaks for itself, and with a talented Class of 2026 signed and on board, along with a soaring Class of 2027 class that ranked inside the Top 10 according to 247Sports, it is easy to see why the Hokies are a program ready to take off.
There is no doubt that Franklin is going to turn around the Hokies program, and by this time next year, it wouldn't be surprising that the next two-year projection has Virginia Tech inside the Top 25, or maybe even inside the Top 20. The James Franklin effect.
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