Why James Franklin At Virginia Tech Will Work

James Franklin is headed to Virginia Tech! But can the success he had in Happy Valley translate to Blacksburg? I break down why I think this move is a home run for the Hokies. As an analyst for ESPN (mostly for the ACC), I talk to coaches every week. When the Franklin news broke, my mind immediately went back to a conversation I had with the last Virginia Tech head coach, Brent Pry, earlier this season in Blacksburg. Pry, who coordinated under Franklin, didn't just casually mention it—he went out of his way to talk about how incredibly well James Franklin recruits Virginia. I did the research to see if he was just hyping up his old boss, and it turns out, he was telling the truth! Virginia ranks significantly above the national average in Blue Chip Recruits (4 and 5-stars) per capita. Since 2015, Franklin signed 21 Virginia blue chips for Penn State. In 2023 alone, he signed six of the top 10 players in the state. He knows the state's talent landscape better than almost anyone. Virginia Tech isn't Penn State. Franklin will have to do more with less at VT, which is why I went back to the last time he was forced to: his time at Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt is the ultimate proving ground for managing a talent disadvantage. What did he accomplish there? He led Vandy to the first back-to-back ranked seasons in school history. He signed Vandy's highest-ranked recruiting class ever, and then signed an even higher-ranked class the following year. He beat Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee in the same season—a monumental feat for a Commodores coach. His success on offense at Vanderbilt when he didn't have the talent edge holds the key to whether or not he can do it again in Blacksburg. Watch the full video to see the plays and the strategy that prove James Franklin is the perfect fit for the Virginia Tech Hokies! FOLLOW FOR MORE FOOTBALL CONTENT ⬇️ Instagram:   / maxbrowne   TikTok:   / brownemax   Twitter/X:   / maxbrowne4   #cfb #acc #virginiatechhokies #acc #jamesfranklin