When Penn State made the decision to fire James Franklin, it seemed like a desperate move from a program that expected to be in the national championship conversation this season.
Franklin built up the most talented team he’d ever assembled in State College. Instead, he was fired after losing three straight games, leaving him in need of a new job. Pretty soon afterwards, he began talking to Virginia Tech.
The Hokies fired Brent Pry in September, allowing Franklin an opportunity to explore becoming the new head coach in Blacksburg. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, that deal has now been agreed on.
Virginia Tech becomes the first Power 4 program to find a new head coach. With the hiring of Franklin, they have chosen to go down a new path.
James Franklin gives Virginia Tech a new identity that it desperately needed
Franklin will come in and give the Hokies a new identity. His ability to recruit nationwide, something Tech has struggled with in the past, will help the program get more talent.
In that regard, Franklin will need some help. Virginia Tech has been very stingy with the NIL money they have. This is a very different situation from the Penn State job he held for over a decade.
Franklin will instill a level of toughness that the Hokies haven’t had. Running the ball well will be a staple of what this new program will do under Franklin. That’s what he built with Penn State over the last couple of seasons.
Virginia Tech hasn’t won eight or more games since 2019. Franklin dragged the Nittany Lions from the doldrums of NCAA sanctions and turned them into a national championship contender.
There’s a good chance that the Hokies turn into a CFP contender in the next two or three years. Franklin will do well in the transfer portal, and that’s something else Pry wasn’t able to master.
Watch out for the Hokies.
