Virginia Tech coach James Franklin will make around $8.2 million annually on the five-year deal he signed with the Hokies, the university announced Friday. Though that is around $300,000 less than he was making at Penn State, it does keep him among the top 20 highest-paid coaches in college football.

Virginia Tech’s financial commitment to football is evident in new coach James Franklin’s five-year contract, which guarantees him $41.75 million and dramatically increases pay for assistant

James Franklin has officially picked up a commitment from one of his former key in-state recruits at Penn State.

Bright is a composite four-star prospect who ranks as the seventh-best player in New Jersey and the 40th-rated offensive tackle nationally. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 290 pounds by 247Sports, Bright brings prototypical size and length to the tackle position, along with the athletic upside that college programs covet in modern offensive linemen.

Swinney knows new Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin well and believes the former Penn State coach has what it takes to win at a high level in the ACC. “I’ve known James for a long time, have a good relationship with him. Certainly will be great for our league,” Dabo Swinney said earlier this month. “And I think it’s a great fit.