Virginia Tech’s push to reshape its wide receiver room brought in a familiar name for James Franklin: Penn State transfer Tyseer Denmark.
Franklin went after the portal looking for speed and playmaking, and Denmark fits the bill on paper. The Virginia Tech coach also knows him as well as anyone, since Denmark came over from the program Franklin just left.
Denmark’s path has already taken a few turns. In high school, he was committed to Oregon for more than six months before flipping to Franklin and Penn State. The Ducks were part of his recruitment, and speed was part of the conversation there, too.
His first year in college came in 2024, when he saw limited action while adjusting to the college game. Denmark played in four games, logged 43 snaps, and kept his redshirt intact. He finished that season with two catches for 28 yards and a touchdown, with the score coming against Maryland.
The next season was supposed to bring a bigger role, but injuries got in the way. Denmark was limited to 28 offensive snaps in 2025 and ended the year with two receptions for 17 yards and one rush for 12 yards.
Now he heads to Blacksburg as Virginia Tech looks for help in a receiver room that needs playmakers. Denmark arrived in college as a three-star prospect with a high ceiling, and the hope is that a fresh start can finally give him the runway to show it.
As a recruit in the 2024 class, he was ranked as the No. 10 player in Pennsylvania and chose Penn State over Oregon, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, and others.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech May Have Found 3 Portal Steals For 2026
Virginia Techs 2026 roster is getting a little more interesting through the portal, and not just because of the names. The Hokies have brought in wide receiver Marlion Jackson from Louisiana Tech, edge rusher Okunlola from Colorado and tight end Matt Henderson from Penn State, a trio of transfers that fits the kind of under-the-radar approach programs use when they think they can uncover useful production without paying premium prices for it.
Jackson arrives with a track record of moderate production and a chance to work into a larger role. Okunlola brings experience, even if an injury sidelined him for most of the 2025 season, while Hendersons limited Penn State playing time could matter less in a Virginia Tech offense that appears ready to create opportunities at tight end. None of the three comes with huge fanfare, but each gives the Hokies a plausible path to becoming one of the quieter portal wins of the cycle. [Read more 🡒]
Why This Virginia Tech Freshman Class Could Matter Faster Than Expected
Virginia Techs 2026 recruiting haul arrived with the kind of depth that can change a programs outlook before those players ever take a snap. The class features eight four-star prospects, matching a school record, and the early conversation around it is not just about long-term upside. It is also about which newcomers might be able to help sooner than usual because the roster is still sorting itself out.
Messiah Mickens, Davion Brown, Pierce Petersohn and offensive tackle Wilder are among the freshmen whose paths to opportunity look more open than most. The Hokies have needs in several spots and a roster in transition, which gives this class a chance to matter faster than expected, even if nothing is guaranteed yet. For a team trying to build momentum, the value of that kind of immediate competition could end up being just as important as the class ranking itself. [Read more 🡒]
