Penn State

James Franklin Trolls Penn State on National Signing Day, Leads Virginia Tech to Top 25 Class

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Mike Lipinski
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Mike Lipinski Sports Editor

Mike Lipinski has been covering Philadelphia sports since 2005. Previous stops include Section 247 Sports, My MMA News, and more. He has been a part of the Sports Talk Philly team since 2019. He is the editor of Philadelphia Phillies content, co-editor for college football covering mainly the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and dabbles in all other sports. Follow him on social media channels -Twitter & Threads- @TheMikeLipinski

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Sports Editor

Published03 Dec 2025

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Former Nittany Lion coach celebrates Hokies’ recruiting success — and subtly trolls Pat Kraft and Penn State with Crumbl cookies

Things are turning out okay for former Penn State coach James Franklin after being shown the door earlier this season. While his former school struggles to find a head coach to replace him, Franklin has landed on his feet at Virginia Tech. He’s turned the Hokies’ recruiting on a dime, going from a mid-140s ranking to a top 25 class, thanks in part to many players he originally had committed to Happy Valley. Now it seems like Franklin is having fun at Pat Kraft and Penn State’s expense.

Franklin and his staff celebrated the Hokies’ very impressive National Signing Day with some Crumbl cookies. Why Crumbl cookies, and what’s the significance, you might ask? Well, it turns out the connection is too good to ignore. Crumbl’s CEO is BYU booster Jason McGowan — the same McGowan who shelled out big money to keep Franklin’s heir apparent, Kalani Sitake, in Provo for the foreseeable future. A sweet treat with a side of subtle trolling, it seems.

For Penn State, it’s another reminder that firing Franklin cost them key recruits and a little dignity on National Signing Day. Meanwhile, Franklin is reveling in his new playground at Virginia Tech, proving he can build a top-tier program while sending a few pointed reminders back to Happy Valley. If nothing else, the Hokies’ recruiting success — and their cookies — are a delicious way to rub it in.