Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin has been busy since the NCAA transfer portal opened on Friday. In addition to keeping some of the Hokies’ top players, Franklin has been busy hosting some of Tech’s
top targets, including some of his former Penn State players.
Early on, the Hokies have officially added a tight end, running back, and defensive lineman, and are expected to land one of the portal’s top quarterbacks, with other players also on the way. On Monday, Franklin and offensive line coach Matt Moore landed their first offensive line prospect.
Justin Bell, a 6-foot-6, 311-pound offensive tackle at Michigan State, entered the portal last week and is now heading to Blacksburg.
A 3-star prospect from Dakota High School in Macomb, Michigan, Bell was ranked as a top-20 player in Michigan, per 247Sports. He redshirted last season and has four years of eligibility remaining.
There was a familiarity with Moore, who recruited Bell in high school, while Moore was West Virginia’s offensive line coach. That relationship helped pave the way for Bell’s transfer to Virginia Tech. Bell visited Blacksburg over the weekend.
The Hokies have seen a few offensive linemen enter the portal, including redshirt freshman Carter Stallard on Monday.
Bell projects to play tackle for the Hokies and is a big, physical presence. It’s unknown how he factors into the 2026 plans, but the Hokies view him as a potential future starter. The best offensive linemen generally come from the Midwest, and the state of Michigan has produced some great ones over the years. Tech landed a commitment from center/guard Benjamin Eziuka in the 2026 recruiting class. Eziuka is from Novi, Michigan.
