James Franklin is luring a top transfer portal away from Penn State

On Sunday, Virginia Tech secured commitment from former Penn State teammate Luke Reynolds via the NCAA transfer portal, bolstering the Hokies’ offense. Former five-star recruit and one of the head coaches James FranklinPenn State’s top-rated signee, Reynolds, reunites with Franklin and former Nittany Lions coach Ty Howell in Blacksburg.

Reynolds entered the transfer portal with a “do not contact” flag, so his decision comes as no surprise. The move reunites him with Howell, now Virginia Tech’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, who was the main reason Reynolds originally chose Penn State in the 2024 recruiting cycle. Howell’s offense places a strong emphasis on tight end usage, similar to the system Reynolds played in during his time with the Nittany Lions.

The 6-foot-4, 253-pound tight end spent two seasons at Penn State and appeared in every game during those years. As a freshman in 2024, Reynolds played behind Tyler Warren, but still contributed nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown. He also made one of the most memorable plays of the Nittany Lions’ season by turning a fake punt into a 32-yard run against Minnesota, a win that helped clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Reynolds stepped into a bigger role in 2025 following Warren’s departure to the NFL. He split time early in the season and finished the year with 26 catches for 257 yards while adding two catches for 26 yards. His most productive reception came against Villanova on September 13, when he had four catches for 73 yards. He also closed the season with two receptions for 28 yards in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson.

Throughout the season, Pro Football Focus assigned him a 62.1 overall offensive grade, including 57.0 in receptions. His blocking was more prominent, with a grade of 73.8 in pass blocking and 68.2 in run blocking. He was especially effective after the catch, generating 163 of his 257 receiving yards after contact or on extended plays. Over two seasons, Reynolds had 35 receptions for 368 yards and one touchdown, along with three rushing attempts for 58 yards.

Before college, Reynolds starred at Cheshire Academy in Connecticut after moving from quarterback to tight end. As a senior, he had 48 catches for 754 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 15.7 yards per reception. Recruiting services ranked him among the top talents in the country, and 247Sports listed him as the No. 29 player overall and the best player in the 2024 class.

Reynolds joins Virginia Tech with two years of eligibility remaining and is the Hokies’ first commitment from Penn State under Franklin.