On Wednesday’s edition of Tech Talk Live, Virginia Tech football head coach James Franklin and tight end Benji Gosnell joined Evan Hughes and Mike Burnop.
The Hokies are 4-0 after a win at Boston College, and they return to Lane Stadium on Friday night to face another 4-0 team in Pitt (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The show’s live recording from McClain’s at First and Main can be listened to on replay here.
James Franklin
How have you handled the short turnaround after the Boston College game with Pitt coming up Friday night?
It’s been a quick week. We were calling it a short week, but the reality is Pitt has the same week we have. I actually didn’t mind the routine. We practiced Monday, which is normally our day off, and just pushed everything up. Monday was our Tuesday practice, Tuesday was our Wednesday practice and so on. So, today is Thursday. I don’t care what you tell me. That’s kind of how we’re approaching it.
What did you learn about your team from coming from behind in difficult conditions to beat Boston College?
If you look at teams across the country, to have a good season, you’ve got to find ways to win games like that. There are a lot of programs that would get in that situation and not handle it well. I said after the game it was the prettiest ugly game I’ve ever seen. But we found a way, and I was very pleased with that.
We battled on offense, defense and special teams. Both teams had to play under the same conditions, but I do think it impacted us a little bit more early in the game based on our style of play. At the end of the day, we found a way to get a win in a gutsy, challenging situation.
Is that kind of comeback something the team can build on as the season progresses?
I think so. During a season, you’re going to have to win some games like that where you just will it to happen. We had lost the momentum. Points were at a premium, so when you get down in those types of games, it’s hard to make it up quickly. Our guys never wavered. There was no panic. There was tremendous poise. We just kept pecking away at it and found a way to get a win.
What has impressed you about Jeffrey Overton and the way he performed, particularly in the fourth quarter at Boston College?
He’s been playing really well all year. You look at his yards-per-carry average and things like that, but he’s also been really good in the passing game as a receiver out of the backfield. He’s not the biggest back in the world, although he’s gotten bigger. He has the ability to break tackles and make people miss. It’s not just the 70-yard runs. Sometimes it’s the 3-yard runs that could have been a negative-1-yard play or no gain, and he finds a way to get positive yardage.
He’s also always got a smile on his face. He’s super positive, super appreciative of his Virginia Tech experience, and he’s been a great teammate. I’m proud of him. I think he also recognizes that it’s hard to have any success as a running back unless you have an offensive line and tight ends.
Ja’Ricous Hairston had a key block on Overton’s long touchdown run. How much has he developed?
He’s one of the most improved guys on our team since the time we arrived here. He’s embraced what we want to do with our tight ends. He’s embraced the competition we have with Luke [Reynolds], Harry [Saint Germain], Benji [Gosnell] and all the guys in that room. He’s one of the most improved guys we have as a receiver, as a blocker — the whole package.
He’s got a chance to be a big, physical guy. He’s over 250 pounds and has been as big as I think 260. He’s a former walk-on who earned a scholarship. He’s got a great story, and I think he’s got a chance to play the game for a long time.
How did the offensive line handle Boston College after losing Brody Meadows and having Michael Troutman make his first start?
That was one of the things I was talking about with the weather conditions. I think those conditions played into their plan and style of play a little bit more than ours. Then it was magnified when we didn’t have JT [Justin Terry], who had been our starting left tackle for the first couple of games, and then obviously we lost one of our guards as well. That played a factor in it, and Troutman made his first start.
It’s not ideal when you’re sitting there saying, “We’re going to have to run the ball with 39-mile-per-hour winds and rain,” and we’re missing two of our starting offensive linemen.
What is your overall assessment of Pitt as you prepare for Friday night?
First of all, Coach [Pat] Narduzzi does a great job. He’s been there 12 years. They’re a tough, hard-nosed, physical team. He made his name as a defensive coordinator at Michigan State as well as a number of other places, and they’ve really run the same defense his entire 12 years.
He’s either hired somebody from the system or promoted from within. You could turn the tape on from 10 years ago, and it’s pretty much the same defense they’re running now. They do a really good job. It’s a four-down, attack-style front. They play 4-3, quarters, press, zone pressures — very aggressive and very disruptive. I think they’re blitzing as much as any defense in the country statistically.
Then he went out and made a non-traditional hire with his offensive coordinator. He’s been more of a run-the-ball, don’t-turn-it-over style through most of his career, and then he hired a guy from Western Carolina, who has completely opened up their offense. They’re throwing it all over the field, and they’ve got a quarterback who allows them to do that.
This is a challenging team. On tape, they’re really good. They tackle extremely well, and they’ve got playmakers all over the field. It’s going to be a challenge. We’re going to need the environment to be special. I’ve heard about the environments that built this place for a long time on Thursday nights. This is 2026’s version of Thursday night — Friday night now in the ACC. We’re going to need that place rocking and have a true home-field advantage.
What stands out about Pitt’s offensive line?
They’re athletic. Sometimes you get these massive guys, but they’re not very athletic. This is a big group that is very athletic. When you go back to Coach Narduzzi, he’s been doing it long enough. He knows the game of football is won up front. It always has been and always will be. On the offensive line and defensive line, they’ve gone out and done a good job of getting some guys out of the transfer portal as well as developing their own. They’re big, old and athletic on the offensive line, and that’s usually a good combination.
What jumps out about Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel, and how does he compare with the quarterbacks you’ve faced so far?
At Maryland, Malik Washington was big, athletic, had an NFL arm and mobility. Heintschel isn’t that. He’s not a big guy. The guy we faced last week wasn’t a big guy either, but he was really mobile.
This guy can run. If you go back and watch his high school tape, he’s been a successful runner and scrambler his whole career. But he’s more of an accurate, throw-the-ball-on-time quarterback. He seems to understand their system very well and distributes the ball. His completion percentage is excellent. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is excellent. Watching him on tape, he does a really good job of commanding their offense.
Pitt has several receiving options. How difficult is it to defend an offense that distributes the ball to so many players?
From what we’ve seen on film and from talking to people, their tight end [Carson Kent] is a better receiver than we probably gave him credit for early on. Then they’ve got three receivers. I think they’ve got three running backs who have all been successful. If they’re all healthy this week, those guys have all been able to make plays for them.
They’ve done a really good job of distributing the ball around their personnel. I think, like us, they have 11 receivers with a significant amount of catches. It’s not like you can say, “If we stop this guy, we can stop Pitt.” They’ve got a number of guys who can hurt you.
What do you see from Pitt’s three running backs?
Stylistically, they’re really all different, but they all do a really good job within their system. It’s not like they have one profile of what they want at the running back position where they’re all 6-foot-1, 210 pounds. It’s not like that.
They’ve got one guy who is probably a little bit more of a home-run threat than the others, but all three of them are physical. They’re tough. They pass protect. They can pick up the tough yards. They’ve also shown they can be used in the passing game.
That’s a big part of this guy’s passing game — getting verticals up the field with the tight end and three wide receivers and then getting the running back matched up on your linebacker, which typically is an advantage for the running back. They do a good job with that. The quarterback pushes the ball down the field, but if that’s not open, he takes the checkdown.
How important will staying ahead of the chains and winning on early downs be against Pitt?
That’s pretty much always the game plan. You want to stay ahead of the sticks on both offense and defense. Typically, first- and second-down success equals third-down success. What I mean is, if you’re good on first and second down and most of your third downs are third-and-1, third-and-2, third-and-3 or third-and-4, you’re going to have a pretty good day.
If you’re struggling on first and second down and now you’re in third-and-8, third-and-9 or third-and-10, those create long days. Those are obvious passing downs, and that’s what most defensive coordinators are looking for. We’re going to have to do a really good job of mixing in the run and pass and taking what they give us to stay on schedule. This defense is going to make you earn it.
How important have Chuck Losey and the strength and nutrition staffs been in preparing the team to win late in games?
That’s a big part of it. You’ve got to have a certain size requirement to play at this level, but you also have to have the strength and endurance. You can have these massive guys, but if they can’t move and can’t play for four quarters, it’s going to be challenging. Our strength staff has done a great job.
The players have done a great job of embracing it. Our nutrition staff and Austin Mark have done a really good job with us as well. All these things factor in. To win games in the fourth quarter and win games late in the season, you’ve got to have depth and great conditioning.
What makes Cortez Harris stand out to you both as a player and a person?
He’s a young man out of PG [Prince George] County in Maryland, who we’ve recruited and known for a long time. He’s got a great mom and dad. They’ve done a really good job raising him. He had some adversity in high school and got injured, so I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a very loyal guy. He’s a hard-working guy.
When I talk about guys who love football, I think one of the challenges now, with everything else going on — NIL and all these different things — is that if you’re not careful, you can have guys who like football but love all the things that come with it. The reality is, to have a very successful program and win at the very highest level like we want to do, you’ve got to have guys who love football. The way we’re going to practice and the way we’re going to work, this level will knock the “like” out of you. You’ve got to love it.
This is a guy who, year-round, not only loves to get out on the grass and play, but he’s willing to do the things necessary to allow him to be a great player in the weight room and classroom. He’s got an intensity to him. He’s got a tremendous amount of respect for his coaches and teammates. He’s a great teammate.
As you guys have seen, he’s athletic. He’s put on size. When he first got here, he was about 235 pounds, and I don’t think he really wanted to get a whole lot bigger than that. I had a lot of conversations with him and convinced him. He’s over 250 pounds now, hasn’t lost a step and has a chance to be a big-time player.
As you guys have seen, he also has a big personality. I’m proud of him. As you guys continue to get to know him better and better, you’re going to love him too.
What does it mean to see Logan Thomas enter the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame?
I checked today to find out whether he was a guy who stayed all four or five years at Tech because, if he didn’t, I was going to see if he had any more eligibility based on these new rules.
I got a chance to spend some time with him earlier in the year, and you talk about a big, beautiful, good-looking guy. I look at him, [Kam] Chancellor and the Edmunds brothers, and I sit there and look at all these guys and think, “Now I know why Bud [Foster] and [Frank] Beamer were so darn good. Look at these guys walking around.”
I’m proud of him. You talk about a guy who played quarterback and was asked to move positions in the NFL. A lot of times that doesn’t work out, either because guys are too prideful to do it or they just don’t figure out how to adapt.
One of the things we talk about is that whether it’s high school, college or the NFL, what allowed you to be successful at one level may not work at the next level. You’ve got to figure out what you have to do at that level to be successful. He’s a great example of that.
I’m really happy for him. I’m glad he’s getting this recognition. He deserves it. But I do wish he had a little bit more eligibility.
How valuable has Anthony Midget been to your staff given his history at Virginia Tech and his NFL coaching experience?
I think it’s really important. You’re talking about a young man who had opportunities to go to other schools out of Florida and decided to come to Tech at a time when Tech was really just starting to get going. Then he ends up becoming a captain on the team that played for the national championship.
He spent the last 12 years coaching in the NFL. We knew each other, but not really well, and probably the same thing with Coach [Brent] Pry. We had the opportunity to get on the phone and talk with him. Part of it was Coach [Mike] Tomlin stepping away, and part of it was I think he wanted to come back to Tech anyway. The combination of those two things helped, and we were able to get him here.
He understands this place. He understands the town. He understands the history. It’s very important to him. It means a ton to him. Then he obviously has instant credibility with the players and recruits after spending the last 12 years in the NFL.
How do you structure the day before a Friday night game when players have so much downtime before kickoff?
It helps on Saturdays because we’re having a lot of downtime at the hotel and they can turn on the TV and watch other games. The good thing is this is also one of the better academic institutions in the country, so God forbid they do some homework while we’re waiting for the game as well.
Our guys will do a good job. The staff will have a really good plan for how to make up the day in terms of walkthroughs, meetings, rest and recovery. But there’s a fine line with that. We don’t want them laying around all day either.
What has impressed you about Benji Gosnell since you arrived at Virginia Tech?
He’s been phenomenal, really, from the day we arrived. Obviously, his brother [Stephen] played here and is now in the NFL. We recruited Benji out of high school, so he had some familiarity with us and we had some familiarity with him. You could make the argument that he may be the best teammate we have on the team.
I think part of it is he’s had a long history of practice being a great teammate. He’s one of 13. He’s got 12 siblings. His mom is obviously a saint. This guy knows what it means to be a great teammate. He’s been doing it at home his whole life, and he’s done the same thing for us. He’s a captain for us. He’s on the leadership council. He’s a man of integrity, and he’s a really good football player. I’m super glad he’s with us, and I’ve got a ton of respect for his family.
Benji Gosnell
How have you handled the quick turnaround from Boston College to Pitt?
We haven’t really had a traditional off day like we’ve had on normal weeks. Honestly, I kind of like it because it’s 24 hours less that I have to wait to play another football game. It’s kind of nice.
How much fun has the 4-0 start been, and how close is this team?
It’s been a ton of fun. I’ve played a lot of ball here, and it hasn’t always been how I wanted it to be. But how we’ve been ever since January, I could tell within a month that we were going to be a tight-knit unit.
When you put together a lot of guys who love each other and would be willing to do anything for each other — especially when they’re talented and you have a great coach like Coach Franklin and great coaches around him — you’re bound for success. It’s been a ton of fun getting to play football with everybody and getting to have a lot of fun out there on Saturdays.
After dealing with several injuries during your career, do you appreciate being able to play football more now?
For sure. My senior year [of high school], I tore my ACL. My freshman year [of college], I tore my ACL. I had another surgery after my redshirt freshman year to clean up some things in my other knee.
I never take anything for granted — hard workouts, early mornings, tough practices. I would take a 30-period practice any day of the week to not be on crutches again. It’s the best. I love football, and it’s awesome being able to be out there with the guys every single day.
What makes Virginia Tech’s tight end room so special?
It’s awesome. I’ve said it before: I would put our tight end room up against anybody’s in the country, and everybody has seen that so far. They’re my best friends — Ja’Ricous and Harrison and everyone there, especially the guys who have been there a few years. Then with Luke and Matt [Henderson] coming in in January, it just clicked.
Within a week, I told Coach [Ty] Howle, “These guys are perfect fits.” We were hanging out outside the facility all the time. They’re just my best friends. It’s such an easy group to go to work with and grind through hard things with because we all know we have each other’s backs.
Luke Reynolds was in your wedding this summer. What has he brought to the tight end room since arriving at Virginia Tech?
He’s been great since day one. Ever since spring ball, we all could tell he was special. He’s helped me a lot, and he’s helped everybody else a lot. Just seeing him move, seeing how he makes certain releases against certain coverages and how he handles certain press techniques — you can take mental notes of how he practices and how he plays and incorporate that into your game.
It helps a lot having a guy like that in your room to help you develop. No matter if you’re a fifth-year guy or a freshman, you can always be developed and continue to learn things. He’s helped me a lot, and he’s helped everybody else.
How difficult were the weather conditions at Boston College?
They were tough. Obviously, it got a lot warmer when we won, so that helped a lot. But it was tough. Like Coach says, it was a cold, windy, rainy, gritty day. We had to run the ball a lot. It was tough conditions, but it was a good thing we were able to run the ball well.
How proud are you of Ja’Ricous Hairston and the way he has developed?
I’m super proud of J. He is one of my closest friends and best friends, and he’ll be that way for life. I actually lived with him for a year last year, so we’ve gotten super close. I love him to death and hang out with him all the time.
To see how he’s progressed from 2023, when he got here, to now is amazing. It’s so fun watching him play because, like you guys saw, he just crushes people because of how powerful he is.
What was Ja’Ricous Hairston like as a roommate?
He’s very neat, honestly. He cleans the kitchen really well a lot of times. He’s very neat and very clean. He had a dog, so that was awesome to have his dog around all the time. Great roommate.
How did playing quarterback, basketball, baseball and track in high school help you develop into a tight end?
It definitely helps your coordination. Baseball helps with hand-eye coordination and reaction time. Basketball helps with overall footwork, and footwork can translate to a lot of sports. There’s also aggressiveness. I even ran track for one year in high school trying to get my speed up. It helps your coordination with everything, and obviously that helps with football because everything is involved in football.
Which sport do you miss more, baseball or basketball?
Definitely baseball. I started playing baseball when I was five and stopped after my senior year. I was a right fielder, and I was our closer. I pitched. I threw 93 miles per hour in high school.
How is your brother, Stephen, doing with the Buffalo Bills?
He’s doing really well. He’s still with the Bills’ practice squad. He’s been with them ever since last April, April of 2025. Coach [Joe] Brady loves him. He does everything right up there. I guess now he’s just waiting for his number to get called, and he’ll make the most of his opportunity when he can. He’s doing great.
What stands out about Pitt’s defense?
It’s definitely an aggressive defense. They don’t do a lot of things, but what they do, they do really well. It’ll be a big challenge. They’ve got a big front, a big 4-3 box and a seven-man front. They make it challenging in the run game. They pressure a lot with a lot of different pressures, and their DBs just line up and make you beat them. We’ll have to win our one-on-ones all of Friday night.
As a tight end, do you enjoy facing an aggressive defense that brings pressure?
Yeah, because a lot of times, especially if they’re blitzing from depth, they don’t really see what’s about to hit them. A lot of times they’re just looking at the ball carrier and sprinting toward him until they see something come hit them. It is kind of fun because you get different looks and things like that. Sometimes you can get two outside the gap if they’re not playing gap-sound. It is fun.
What kind of atmosphere are you expecting at Lane Stadium on Friday night?
I hope it’s electric. We need everybody there Friday night for all four quarters, all the time, being as loud and obnoxious as they can be.
What are your favorite memories from your Virginia Tech career?
The No. 1 favorite is definitely the first snap I ever took because Stephen was on the field with me. That was kind of a surreal moment. We played sports together growing up the whole way, and then both of us were living out our dream in college right next to each other. That definitely takes the cake.
For second, there are so many to choose from. I would say the Military Bowl was a really fun game. We had a ton of fun that season. It was a really good trip. Selfishly, I scored my first touchdown, so that was big for me. Then my buddy Harry scored his first touchdown. We had a big win, and that whole week was really fun.
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