The transfer portal opens for two weeks on January 2nd, ushering in James Franklin’s first transfer cycle as Virginia Tech’s head coach.
Signing a strong transfer class to bolster a top 25 recruiting group in 2026 will be crucial, as Franklin seeks to overhaul the Hokies’ roster. As covered by TLP previously, during his time at Penn State, James Franklin didn’t over-emphasize the retention of in-state talent, instead opting to expand his scope to the Mid-Atlantic region in general. However, in Virginia Tech’s 2026 recruiting class, nine of the 23 total signees were from Virginia, possibly indicating that Franklin will target in-state native transfers.
Franklin has plenty of experience pilfering Virginia’s talent, frequently signing multiple players from the state’s top 10 recruits each year while he was in Happy Valley. It wouldn’t be surprising, therefore, to see his staff make a significant effort to land notable transfers with ties to the Commonwealth.
Virginia Tech has also had some good success finding VA natives in the transfer portal who turned into major contributors including Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Kelvin Gilliam, Da’Quan Felton, and more.
So with that in mind, here are some names to look for as the New Year gets underway.
