James Franklin credits Virginia Tech tradition of 'Enter Sandman' as a recruiting tool

After a sudden end to his time at Penn State, James Franklin has found a new home at Virginia Tech. There, he’s been focused on recruiting, selling his vision for the program, and what the program already is, to the next generation of Hokies.

On National Signing Day, Franklin spoke with Rivals about Virginia Tech’s most famous tradition, coming out of the tunnel to “Enter Sandman.” The Metallica song and atmosphere it helps to create at Lane Stadium has proven to be one or the best recruiting tools Franklin has at Virginia Tech.

“It’s a special deal,” James Franklin said. “I’ve been here twice as the offensive coordinator at the University of Maryland when a guy named Bud Foster was the defensive coordinator on the other sideline, and it was a long night for the young ball coach, calling the plays at the University of Maryland. The place was rocking and going crazy. The song is phenomenal. This place goes crazy. I will tell you this, since being here, and actually listening to the words of it — before I just kind of got up in the excitement and the hype of it — the words are really cool in that song too.”

In recent seasons, however, “Enter Sandman” has been the most exciting part of the game for Virginia Tech. The Hokies haven’t won more than seven games in a season since 2019. During the entire Brent Pry era, which lasted four season, Virginia Tech went 19-30. So, the real challenge for James Franklin is harnessing that energy and riding it to wins. Then, giving fans something to celebrate and stay on their feet throughout games.

“So, it’s a special place. It’s our job to make sure the most exciting thing is not just the entrance, ‘Enter Sandman,’ with the fans and the players going crazy. We want to give our fans and our alumni something to be excited about for all four quarters.”

James Franklin certainly knows how to harness a great atmosphere for recruiting. He did it at Penn State with the team’s White Out Game. Now, he’ll have the chance to do it with “Enter Sandman” during every home game.

Recruiting can rapidly change. In particular, players flip all the time on National Signing Day. However, as of 12:32 p.m. EST on March 3rd, Virginia Tech had the 32nd-ranked class in the 2026 recruiting cycle. That includes six four-star recruits. It’s also good for seventh in the ACC. How much work Franklin puts in through the Transfer Portal as a first-year head coach and in the later signing day remains to be seen as well.