Seems a little strange that only one VT player has entered the portal.
I expected most evaluations would have been completed by this time and at least 12 to 15 players would have announced they have entered the portal. Maybe Franklin has decided to retain more players than I had anticipated....
Your thoughts?
19 Replies
7mo
Let me know if I’m wrong.
** Edited by HokieFlyFisher at 12/22/2025, 6:06:43 PM
(In response to this post by MKD)
7mo
referring to new players entering
(In response to this post by HokieFlyFisher)
7mo
there are 2 “new” players in the portal, not one. Of course, many more will announce by January 2.
(In response to this post by techer1983)
7mo
Maybe you don't want to run people off before you know you can reach your numbers. So subtracting that 24 from 85 gives us 61. 61 + 22 signed freshmen gives us 83. Now 105 - 83 equals 22 players to fill out his roster. If we can expect 15 to 30 players decide they should go elsewhere or get run off, that's leaves us with a whole lot of holes to fill. We will get some good to very good transfers I think as that is Franklin's (and his staff perhaps) mojo. But we will get some guys just like many that we saw this past year, from Peabody State College who are not quite ready for the prime time we want to play.
(In response to this post by MKD)
7mo
bad math. 85 is an irrelevant number in the 105 roster era.
We basically have 108 kids accounted for on the 2026 roster, this includes 16 kids that are not on scholarship but have eligibility left. I've already subtracted Rangel.
So for every portal addition we get, we need that number + 3 for portal defections.
(In response to this post by likehokies)
7mo
As other responders have noted: the official date1/2; thinking it through with family during holidays; evaluations not complete.
I also think players see what could be at VT and want to be part of the buzz and no one wants to declare for the portal too quickly. As others stay the numbers will grow but for a change not because they are escaping a failed program but because they won't be selected to be part of a successful future.
And oh yeah.....money will be driving decisions too.
(In response to this post by MKD)
7mo
entering the portal and will announce they're entering the portal when they decide so...
(In response to this post by Virginian42)
7mo
(In response to this post by MKD)
7mo
Perceptions. Franklin is very calculated in his decision making so I think he wants to give careful consideration to the process. I’m expecting 15-25 more hitting the door after the new year.
(In response to this post by MKD)
7mo
He'll need some continuity and depth for next year so I don't expect him to pull the rug out from under the players like Coach Prime did at Colorado. There's some good P4 talent on the current roster especially for the 2 deep spots. Franklin is also know for development of players so I'm sure he's factoring in that process as well.
(In response to this post by Hokiefied)
7mo
That seems about right, so I agree with you.
(In response to this post by BG Hokie)
7mo
isn't open yet. Read my post again. We're guessing as to the number of "retainees". I'm guessing we will have between 50 and 60 retainees, which means we would have another 25 to 35 portal exits.
** Edited by BG Hokie at 12/22/2025, 4:18:31 PM
(In response to this post by PoHokieDad)
7mo
...specifically with defensive players that Pry recruited. It has to be awkward.
(In response to this post by MKD)
H
Hokie83
7mo
(In response to this post by MKD)
V
V333T
7mo
25 might even be a little low. Very curious only 1 so far. I’m sure the final # will have some correlation with the NIL budget, how much needs to be paid for the QB and how much will be left to fill the roster. The situation looks to be very fluid. First working week in January will be interesting.
(In response to this post by Hokiefied)