Virginia Tech football: ESPN ranks top transfer portal classes, including Hokies

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When James Franklin was hired as Virginia Tech’s new head coach in November, he had a lot of work in front of him. For one, Franklin hoped to have a strong finish to the 2026 recruiting class with only weeks until signing day. That’s what Franklin did, improving the Hokies from a class ranked in the 120s to a top-25 class. It was unheard of and showed Franklin’s ability as a recruiter, combined with Virginia Tech’s significant investment into the football program.

Once Franklin finished with the 2026 recruiting class, his focus immediately shifted to the NCAA transfer portal, which opened on January 2 and was open for only two weeks.

As expected, Franklin crushed it. And he didn’t do it like many teams, signing a bunch of one-year mercenaries. Instead, Franklin mostly signed players with multiple years of eligibility remaining, which can help in 2026 and beyond. Franklin leaned on his Penn State ties, bringing many former Nittany Lions to Blacksburg, led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.

So, how did others view Tech’s portal haul?

ESPN recently ranked the top 25 transfer portal classes for 2026. The Hokies were ranked 14th.

James Franklin’s arrival supercharged Virginia Tech’s recruiting efforts and established a well-traveled pipeline of former Penn State players or commits headed to Blacksburg. While most of his splashy additions came from the high school ranks, Franklin also dipped into the portal.

Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer unexpectedly replaced Drew Allar last year as Penn State’s starter and grew more comfortable by the week. He’s a rhythm passer with a competitive spirit that teammates gravitate toward. Expect him to lean on Luke Reynolds, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound target with some wiggle and solid blocking skills who could take a leap if his hands become a bit more reliable.

Grunkemeyer’s addition could allow Franklin to slow-play the development of incoming four-star quarterback Troy Huhn or untested North Carolina transfer Bryce Baker. He’ll also benefit from throwing to Duke transfer Que’Sean Brown, a slot receiver who is dynamic in space.

While fans shouldn’t be thinking about a national championship appearance in 2026, Franklin’s rebuilding efforts in such a short time bring plenty of hope. Franklin is building to win next year, while also restocking the roster for future years. The way the Hokies rebuilt the offensive and defensive lines, both through recruiting and the portal, is impressive. There remain questions about the offensive line for 2026, but the defensive line could be one of the ACC’s best next fall if everyone remains healthy and plays to their potential.

Where do you think Tech’s portal haul should rank?

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