James Franklin brings elite in-state tackle back into the fold

Thomas Wilder was a big-time commitment for the Virginia Tech Hokies when he committed under former head coach Brent Pry. The Hokies lost his commitment when Pry was fired, though, and it seemed as if one of the top in-state recruits in the 2026 cycle would end up elsewhere.

And then James Franklin was hired by Virginia Tech. One of the first things on Franklin’s agenda as head coach was to get Wilder back onto campus to see if the Hokies could reignite his passion for the program.

Wilder, a four-star offensive tackle from Virginia Beach, Virginia, took an official visit to Blacksburg this past weekend. He sat down with Franklin and heard the plan for VT’s future.

In the end, he decided to recommit to the Hokies. 

That decision was announced on social media on Monday evening.