James Franklin lands another of his former Penn State players.
The Virginia Tech Hokies and head coach James Franklin just landed one of their starting linebackers for 2026 on Thursday. Penn State linebacker Keon Wylie revealed he was following Franklin to Blacksburg, joining four of his former teammates — and counting.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Wylie is a native of Philadelphia, where he played at the Imhotep Institute. Wylie played three games in 2022 and redshirted. In 2023, he played in 13 games, recorded 17 tackles, including five for loss and three sacks. He missed the 2024 season due to an injury.
Wylie returned in 2025, played in 13 games, recorded 28 tackles, 2.5 for loss and one sack. While he has one year of eligibility remaining, Wylie could request a medical redshirt for the 2024 season he missed.
The Hokies needed linebackers after Jaden Keller graduated and Caleb Woodson transferred to Alabama. The good news is that promising freshman Noah Chambers returns in 2026. Don’t be surprised if the Hokies target another linebacker in the portal. Wylie has shown the ability to rush the passer, too, so his versatility could be an asset for Brent Pry’s defense.
Virginia Tech added an outstanding linebacker class for 2026, with Terry Wiggins, Tyson Harley and Mathieu Lamah, but it’s not certain if any of the three will play significant snaps next season.
Category: General Sports
