The early signing period gave Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin some big wins over his former program, Penn State, in recruiting.
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Per 247 Sports, the Hokies are currently ranked No. 24 for the class of 2026. PSU is ranked at No. 155, with only two recruits signed in December.
On Wednesday, Franklin suggested he had an advantage in flipping players from the Nittany Lions to VT because of his relationships.
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“People are saying, ‘Oh, well, Franklin’s flipping all these recruits,'” Franklin said, via CBS Sports. “Well, it’s the kids that I know and have relationships with. It has nothing to do with a previous school. It has nothing to do with hurt feelings or any of those types of things.
“They’re the players I know. They’re the players that I have longstanding relationships. And although they committed for the academics and the school, it’s also about the relationship with the head coach.”
Franklin was also helped by PSU delaying hiring a head coach, Matt Campbell, until the early signing period had already started. It was an issue that then-interim head coach Terry Smith argued in November could bite PSU in recruiting for 2026. Smith suggested he and other members of the staff could head to Blacksburg to reunite with Franklin after the season.
Terry is staying, but Virginia Tech was able to poach a PSU coach to become an offensive coordinator for the Hokies. Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Ty Howle is set to leave Penn State for the offensive coordinator job at VT.
“Sources: Virginia Tech is expected to hire Penn State co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Ty Howle as the school’s new offensive coordinator,” Thamel wrote. “He’s expected to be the school’s play caller as well. Howle has been at Penn State since 2020, including as the CO-OC since 2022.
“He worked as Tyler Warren’s position coach while at Penn State, including in his Mackey Award season. He coached at Western Illinois from 2016-19 prior to returning to Penn State, his alma mater. He’ll now re-join James Franklin in Blacksburg.”
Howle played as an offensive lineman for PSU from 2009 to 2013.
As a homegrown talent, he’ll be ahead of huge loss for PSU as they try to gain some ground in the transfer portal and recruiting trail.
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