Virginia Tech Lands Another Key Flip from Penn State: LB Mathieu Lamah Joins Hokies' 2026 Class
The momentum in Blacksburg just keeps building.
Virginia Tech has pulled off another significant recruiting win, flipping four-star linebacker Mathieu Lamah from Penn State. The Nokesville (Va.) Patriot standout announced his decision Monday, becoming the latest high-profile prospect to follow former Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin to the Hokies.
For Lamah, it’s not just about the logo on the helmet - it’s about fit, familiarity, and future. “I think it is just where I want to be at,” he said.
“The only [question] with Franklin is not knowing the position coach, but it’s the future of it. I know Franklin is going to bring a good guy in.”
That trust in Franklin, who was let go by Penn State in October, has become a recurring theme among recruits in the 2026 cycle. Lamah is now the sixth former Penn State commit to flip to Virginia Tech since Franklin took over in Blacksburg - joining QB Troy Huhn, RB Messiah Mickens, TE Pierce Petersohn, and offensive linemen Marlen Bright and Roseby Lubintus.
Lamah originally committed to Penn State back on May 5, choosing the Nittany Lions over a stacked offer list that included Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, North Carolina, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
At the time, Lamah cited his fit in Penn State’s defensive scheme as a key factor. “I feel this is the right fit for me because I fit what they need in their defense,” he said during his initial commitment. “The size, length, and me fitting into the Mike role that they need and want.”
Now, that same fit - and that same role - will be developed in Blacksburg under Franklin’s new staff.
Lamah’s flip is just the latest domino to fall in what’s become a dramatic reshaping of Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class. Since Franklin’s departure, 18 players have decommitted, a staggering number that underscores how quickly things can change when a program hits the reset button.
Of those 18, a dozen have already found new homes. Here's where they’ve landed:
- WR Lavar Keys - Indiana
- WR Jahsiear Rogers - Oklahoma
- OL Kevin Brown - West Virginia
- OL Jack Fuchs - Northwestern
- DL Isaac Chukwurah - Miami
- DL Alexander Haskell - Syracuse
- LB Elijah Littlejohn - Georgia
- CB Jaziel Hart - North Carolina
- CB Julian Peterson - North Carolina
- S Darrell Carey - Maryland
- S David Davis - North Carolina
- K Adam McCann-Gibbs - North Carolina
That leaves just six recruits still committed to Penn State as the Early Signing Period looms on Wednesday - a class that was once one of the Big Ten’s most promising now finds itself in flux.
The remaining group includes:
- Matt Sieg, Top247 safety from Fort Cherry (Pa.)
- Terry Wiggins, Top247 linebacker from Coatesville (Pa.)
- Jackson Ford, Top247 edge rusher from Malvern Prep (Pa.)
- Tyson Harley, edge rusher from Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)
- Benjamin Eziuka, offensive lineman from Novi Catholic Central (Mich.)
- Amauri Polydor, cornerback from St.
Frances Academy (Md.)
As for Virginia Tech, the Hokies are turning heads on the trail. The addition of Lamah - a rangy, instinctive linebacker with sideline-to-sideline potential - gives Franklin another foundational piece as he reshapes the Hokies' defense in his image.
It’s still early in the cycle, but the pattern is clear: Franklin’s pull is real, and Virginia Tech is capitalizing in a big way.