Breaking down which recruits are following James Franklin from Penn State to Virginia Tech

When James Franklin was fired as the head coach of Penn State on Oct. 12, the Big Ten program had the No. 16 class in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Virginia Tech fell as low as No. 121 in the team rankings this fall.

With National Signing Day now in the rearview mirror, the Hokies — who are now led by Franklin — have the nation’s No. 27 class. The Nittany Lions signed just two prospects and are no longer featured in the rankings.

It’s an incredibly impressive recruiting run for Franklin and the ACC program. To no surprise, Virginia Tech built its 2026 class on short notice by poaching tons of pledges from Penn State.

So, who made the leap from Happy Valley to Blacksburg? Rivals takes a look at who Franklin and the Hokies flipped from PSU across the last couple of weeks:

Mickens kicks things off

Harrisburg (Pa.) four-star running back Messiah Mickens was committed to Penn State longer than anyone in the cycle. He eventually decommitted as Oklahoma and Ole Miss looked to be in position ahead of NSD.

Instead, Mickens was one of many who visited Blacksburg at the end of the season. Not long after, he committed to Franklin again and became the first to join the new regime at VT. That came on Nov. 25.

“It honestly was a good experience,” Mickens told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong after the OV. “I’m happy I made the decision to go and see my guys and Coach Franklin … Campus was very nice. It exceeded expectations.”

Mickens is the No. 228 overall prospect and No. 17 RB in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. His commitment was just the beginning for the Hokies.

Hokies made big Thanksgiving splash

Franklin and the Hokies had plenty to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. That Thursday brought a trio of commitments.

Blackwood (N.J.) Timber Creek three-star offensive tackle Roseby Lubtinus originally chose Penn State, but flipped to Syracuse earlier this year. He had decommitted from the Orange earlier in the fall and was Franklin’s first public offer at VT. Known as “Purgatory,” Lubtinus is the No. 19 recruit in New Jersey.

Later in the day, another New Jersey tackle prospect in Wayne DePaul Catholic Rivals four-star Marlen Bright committed. He’s Rivals’ 29 OT and was the first true flip from Penn State.

Dodge Center (Minn.) Triton four-star tight end Pierce Petersohn then did the same. A top-300 recruit nationally, Petersohn is the No. 14 TE in the cycle and No. 3 recruit in Minnesota. He’s now the third-highest-ranked signee in the Hokies’ class.

Commitments flowed through NSD

With momentum in hand, Franklin and Co. then closed on numerous others throughout the first week of December.

San Marcos (Calif.) Mission Hills four-star quarterback Troy Huhn was keen on following Franklin and that held true when he pledged on Dec. 1. Huhn is the No. 24 signal-caller in the cycle.

Manassas (Va.) Patriot Rivals four-star linebacker Mathieu Lamah was going to be an in-state target regardless, and after he took his OV to Blacksburg he also flipped to the Hokies. He’s the No. 21 LB in the Rivals300.

The same can be said for Richmond (Va.) Trinity Episcopal four-star wide receiver Davion “FatRat” Brown. He quickly decommitted from PSU after Franklin was fired. Maryland emerged and got him in for an OV, but Virginia Tech did the same and closed the deal on the day before NSD. Brown is the No. 8 recruit in Virginia.

Along with Brown, Dec. 2 also saw VT flip Detroit Catholic Central three-star interior offensive lineman Benjamin Eziuka and Washington D.C. Gonzaga four-star EDGE Tyson Harley. Per the Rivals300, Harley is the No. 19 EDGE in the nation.

Two more flips came through the door on National Signing Day via Coatesville (Pa.) four-star linebacker Terry Wiggins and Laurel (Md.) St. Frances Academy three-star cornerback Amauri Polydor. Wiggins now sits atop the class as the No. 173 recruit and No. 9 LB.

The full 23-man Virginia Tech class can be seen here. Momentum is plentiful in Blacksburg as Franklin and the new staff continue to usher in a new era.