Of 136 FBS programs, Virginia Tech’s recruiting effort ranked No. 124 in the country at the time of Franklin’s hire on Nov. 17. In just over two weeks, however, the Hokies have leapt up the leaderboards, jumping over 100 positions to what currently stands as a No. 23 overall recruiting class (247Sports Composite). The massive rankings climb serves as a key indicator of Franklin’s ability to pursue, recruit and sign key playmakers who are now slated to call Blacksburg home.
Positionally, Tech’s 2026 recruitment class features a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball. Eleven of the 22 Hokies find themselves on offense, while 10 feature in defensive roles and one familiar name finds himself on special teams.
On the offensive side of the ball, Franklin and the Virginia Tech Football recruitment staff corralled seven offensive linemen: Marlen Bright, Roseby Lubintus, Buddy Wegdam, Maddox Cochrane, Tyrell Simpson, Thomas Wilder and Benjamin Eziuka. The group makes up the largest majority of all 2026 Tech recruits, each bringing unique skills and monstrous size that are sure to make a difference in Lane Stadium next season.
Surrounding the newly signed offensive linemen are an elite class of four-star recruits that are primed to make big strides in maroon and orange. Quarterback Troy Huhn, running back Messiah Mickens, wide receiver Davion Brown and tight end Pierce Petersohn all enter with four-star rankings, the quartet marking the first time in program history that a Tech recruiting class features at least one four-star in each of the positions.
Hailing from Carlsbad, Calif., Huhn arrives in Blacksburg after posting 2,438 passing yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior at Mission Hills High School. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, the former three-year varsity starter’s ability to fire quick strikes from the pocket was key to leading the Grizzlies to a 9-2 record and a playoff berth in his final season.
While Huhn gets it done in the air, Mickens finds success in the ground game, evidenced by a near 4,000-yard career between time at Trinity and Harrisburg High School in his hometown of Pennsylvania. A consensus four-star runner who selected the Hokies ahead of Alabama, Indiana, Ohio State and a staggering 21 additional offers, the 5-foot-10, 220-pound rusher posted a pair of 1,000-yard seasons over four years and averaged over eight yards a carry in his sophomore campaign. Mickens is the Hokies’ first unanimous four-star running back signee since David Wilson in 2009. In addition, Mickens is the first top-10 prospect from Pennsylvania to sign with the Hokies since running back Shai McKenzie in 2014.
Both Brown and Petersohn arrive in Blacksburg as the top ranked position player from their state – Brown as the No. 1 wide receiver from Virginia (ESPN) and Petersohn as the No. 1 tight end from Minnesota (247Sports). The former, who retained offers from Georgia and Indiana, joins after leading Trinity High School in Richmond, Va. to a 32-10 record over his career while the latter posted Conference Player of the Year awards in track, basketball and football while at Triton High School in Minnesota.
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