James Franklin Makes Virginia Tech Stance Clear as NFL Rookies Attempt College Football Return

Virginia Tech's James Franklin Open to Adding Class of 2022 Players Amid Eligibility Uncertainty

Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin said he would be open to adding players from the Class of 2022 to his roster if courts permit them to compete, even as a federal appeals court has cast doubt on their eligibility for the upcoming season.

Franklin's comments come amid a chaotic offseason in which college football programs and NFL teams are scrambling in August due to recent court rulings over the eligibility of some Class of 2022 athletes. Some of those athletes signed with NFL teams and participated in training camp, but in a bizarre twist, a few would prefer to be released before the Aug. 30 deadline to trim league rosters to 53 players so they can sign with a college team this fall instead of joining an NFL practice squad.

Franklin's Stance

Speaking to the media after Virginia Tech's fall camp practice, Franklin was asked directly whether he would be willing to take in members of the 2022 class if the courts ruled that they could compete. His answer was straightforward: yes.

"It has to be an option," Franklin said, via a transcription from On3. "If you want to compete in major college football, you can't say that we're not going to do things that give us a chance to be highly competitive when other schools are. Like, these are the things to me: when you say you want to compete at the very highest level, you can't say, 'Okay, we're going to compete in these three things and not the other things.' And everybody's got to be bought into that."

Franklin acknowledged the logistical challenges of integrating players who might arrive late, explaining that schools have adjusted their academic calendars to accommodate them. He noted that some schools on the quarter system, which don't start classes until later in the season, have an advantage in that regard. "A lot of schools have literally started carrying extra courses that don't start until the midpoint of the semester for this very reason," Franklin said.

The first-year Hokies coach also raised concerns about roster space, pointing out that most programs are not sitting at 102 or 103 spots, so there isn't room to bring back every former player who might seek a return.

UVA's Involvement

The University of Virginia, the Hokies' in-state rival, has already moved forward with integrating Class of 2022 players into its practice regimen. Earlier this month, the Cavaliers announced that defensive linemen Jacob Holmes and Cazeem Moore would be integrated into preseason football activities. However, their situation has taken a twist following a federal appeals court ruling.

Legal Back-and-Forth

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit granted a stay in the Wisne v. NCAA case on Friday, pausing a preliminary injunction that had allowed some Class of 2022 athletes who had exhausted their NCAA eligibility to compete for an additional year. The NCAA responded with a statement saying: "Effective immediately, the age-based eligibility rules will be implemented as the Division I membership intended."

As a result, class members who competed due to the Wisne injunction are no longer eligible to compete. However, separate state-court rulings that grant extra eligibility remain in effect. That means athletes in states where state courts have ruled in favor of additional eligibility are still good to go for the upcoming season, including in Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

For Holmes and Moore, the ruling means they would need to pursue their own state-level legal exemption to play in 2026. Of course, they could do that, get an injunction in their favor, get on the field, and then be told by another judge that the first judge was wrong—as has been the case with how the federal case has been going.

Other Coaches' Reactions

Franklin is not alone in his openness to adding such players. SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee and Oregon head coach Dan Lanning have been outspoken about their concerns with the recent rulings allowing players to return to college football. North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick is also reportedly looking to add players from the NFL.

Virginia Tech and North Carolina could boost their programs with elite NFL talent if they manage to land some of these players. Franklin emphasized that for Virginia Tech, which went 3-9 in 2025 and brought in over two dozen transfer portal players, being competitive means taking advantage of every opportunity.

"When you say you want to compete at the very highest level, you can't say, 'Okay, we're going to compete in these three things and not the other things,'" Franklin said. "Everybody's got to be bought into that."

Attorney Robert K. Shelquist, who is involved in the legal fight, said they are exploring options and remain committed to fighting for athletes, though he did not provide specifics on next steps.

The situation remains fluid, with court decisions at the federal and state levels continuing to shape the eligibility landscape for Class of 2022 players.