James Franklin's Offensive Line Rebuild: A Deep Dive into Virginia Tech's New Hokies
James Franklin has embarked on a transformative journey to rebuild Virginia Tech's offensive line, bringing in 11 new players through high school recruitment and the transfer portal.
The High School Recruitments:
- Thomas Wilder: A four-star offensive tackle from Virginia Beach, Wilder initially decommitted after former coach Brent Pry's dismissal but recommitted under Franklin's leadership. He's ranked as the nation's No. 29 offensive tackle and the No. 9 player in Virginia.
- Tyrell Simpson: Simpson, a three-star recruit from North Carolina, initially committed to Rutgers but flipped to Virginia Tech after an official visit. He's listed as the No. 84 offensive tackle prospect in the 2026 class and the No. 35 player in North Carolina.
- Buddy Wegdam: Wegdam, a three-star recruit from Woodberry Forest, VA, committed to Virginia Tech despite staff changes. He's ranked as the No. 45 player in Virginia and visited the school multiple times to finalize his commitment.
- Benjamin Eziuka: Eziuka, a three-star recruit from Novi, MI, flipped his commitment from Penn State to Virginia Tech just days before the Early Signing Period. He's ranked as the No. 40 interior offensive lineman and the No. 10 player in Michigan.
- Roseby Lubintus: Lubintus, a three-star recruit from New Jersey, committed to Virginia Tech after a brief commitment to Penn State and Syracuse. He's ranked as the No. 50 offensive tackle prospect and the No. 13 player in New Jersey.
- Marlen Bright: Bright, a three-star recruit from New Jersey, committed to Virginia Tech after a five-month commitment to Penn State. He's ranked as the No. 14 player in New Jersey and the No. 52 offensive tackle in the class.
- Maddox Cochrane: Cochrane, a three-star recruit from Virginia, decommitted from Wisconsin and committed to Virginia Tech after back-to-back visits. He's ranked as the No. 22 player in Virginia and the No. 83 offensive tackle prospect.
Transfer Portal Additions:
- Justin Bell: Bell, a former three-star prospect, transferred from Michigan State with a 247Sports Transfer Rating of 0.8500 and 4 years of eligibility remaining. He was a developmental prospect with upside.
- Logan Howland: Howland, a redshirt sophomore from Oklahoma, brings experience and starting potential. He has a 247Sports Transfer Rating of 0.8600 and 2 years of eligibility remaining. However, he has a history of injuries, which could impact his playing time.
- Michael Troutman III: Troutman, a key addition to the interior of the offensive line, has a 247Sports Transfer Rating of 0.8600 and 4 years of eligibility remaining. He was a backup at Penn State and is expected to compete for the backup center role.
- Justin Terry: Terry, a 6-foot-5, 324-pound prospect, transferred from Ohio State with 3 years of eligibility remaining. He has a year of development under his belt and is expected to press for a rotational role at tackle.
James Franklin's strategic approach to rebuilding the offensive line has brought in a diverse group of players with varying levels of experience and potential. With 11 new players, the Hokies are poised to make significant strides in their offensive line, addressing both immediate needs and long-term depth.
