Benji Gosnell, Virginia Tech Football News: Draft Scout Player News

Draft Scout College Football Player News

11/17/25 - TE Benji Gosnell, rJr/2027, Virginia Tech, (DS#42 TE)

James Franklin was hired as Virginia Tech's coach on Monday, a little more than a month after he was fired during his 12th season at Penn State. The Hokies became the first Power 4 football program to fill a coaching vacancy this season. Franklin was set to be formally introduced at a news conference Wednesday morning. He was fired by the Nittany Lions on Oct. 12, a day after they lost at home to Northwestern to fall to 3-3. The 53-year-old Franklin went 104-45 at Penn State, winning a Big Ten championship (in the 2016 season), a Fiesta Bowl (2017) and a Rose Bowl (2022). Last season, he led the Nittany Lions to a first-round victory in the College Football Playoff. "I'm honored and humbled to join the Hokie family," Franklin said in a statement. "My vision is simple: to restore unmatched excellence, to build something that lasts, and to serve this university, the Commonwealth of Virginia and our amazing fan base with honor, integrity, and passion. I look forward to getting to work with our players, our staff, and the entire Virginia Tech community." Terms of Franklin's contract were not released. Before he was hired by Virginia Tech, Penn State had been on the hook for a buyout worth nearly $50 million. But Franklin and the Nittany Lions negotiated a settlement under which he'll be paid $9 million instead, according to multiple reports.

Franklin has a 128-60 overall record, including his three seasons at Vanderbilt. In Blacksburg, he takes over for his former Nittany Lions defensive coordinator, Brent Pry, who was fired on Sept. 14 after the Hokies lost their first three games by an average of 18.7 points. Virginia Tech started 0-3 for the first time since 1987. Pry went 16-24, including 10-13 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, in his three-plus seasons. The Hokies (3-7, 2-4 ACC) have since been led by interim coach Philip Montgomery. Franklin was maligned at Penn State for not winning big games - he went 4-21 against teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll - but he brings credibility to a Virginia Tech program that has struggled since Frank Beamer retired in 2015 after 29 years at the helm. - AP College Football

(DS#42 TE) rJr/2027