likehokies

I asked chatgpt what it could dig up just for the heck of it about our running backs group: Virginia Tech's running back room is one of the more intriguing position groups on the roster under new head coach James Franklin. Franklin has always preferred a physical run game with multiple backs contributing, and he brought in longtime Penn State assistant and running backs coach Norval McKenzie to oversee the position. ([si.com][1]) Here's how I see the room shaping up, along with everything publicly available on their speed. ### 1. Marcellous Hawkins (Sr.) – The likely starter * 5'10", 223 lbs * Transfer from Central Missouri * Ran for **749 yards at 6.3 yards per carry** in 2025. * Powerful between the tackles but has shown enough burst to rip off chunk runs. He isn't known as a pure burner, but he's faster than his build suggests. ([gobblercountry.com][2]) **Known speed** * I could not find a verified 100-meter time or laser-timed 40. * Recruiting services generally described him as having good acceleration rather than elite top-end speed. **Projection** He's the guy who wears defenses down. Think more "move the chains and break tackles" than "80-yard touchdown every game." --- ### 2. Jeffrey Overton Jr. (r-Fr.) – The explosive option * 5'9", 205 lbs * One of the breakout names from spring practice. * Coaches and local media consistently mention his explosiveness. ([gobblercountry.com][3]) **Known speed** * No verified 100m or 40 has been published. * High school film shows excellent acceleration and lateral quickness. **Projection** If one back on this roster becomes the home-run hitter, I'd bet on Overton. --- ### 3. Messiah Mickens (Fr.) The highest-profile recruit in the room. * Four-star recruit * Around 5'10", 212 lbs * One of Virginia Tech's biggest recruiting wins at RB in years. ([si.com][4]) **Known speed** Here's where it gets interesting. I couldn't find an officially FAT-timed 100 meters like the 10.7 example you mentioned. However: * He reportedly ran in the **4.5-second range in the 40-yard dash** during recruiting evaluations. * His verified recruiting testing also included excellent shuttle and explosion numbers, which helped make him a blue-chip prospect. He's more of a complete back than a track guy. --- ### 4. Tyler Mason (r-So.) * 5'10", 211 lbs * Developmental back with good balance. **Known speed** * No verified 40 or 100m that I could locate. --- ### 5. Bill Davis (r-Jr.) * 5'9", 230 lbs Built like a bowling ball. **Known speed** * No published testing. * More of a short-yardage, physical runner than a speed threat. --- ## Fastest guys? Based on available recruiting information and film—not just stopwatch numbers—I would rank the room like this: | Player | Top-end speed | Burst | | ------------------ | ------------- | ----- | | Jeffrey Overton | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Messiah Mickens | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | | Marcellous Hawkins | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Tyler Mason | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | | Bill Davis | ⭐⭐½ | ⭐⭐⭐ | --- ## Were any track stars? Interestingly, none of the current scholarship backs have widely documented elite track credentials like: * 10.6–10.8 100m * 21-second 200m * verified 4.3 forty Virginia Tech has had backs like that in the past (Bhayshul Tuten eventually ran a **4.32** at the NFL Combine), but this current room is built more around football athleticism than track résumés. ([reuters.com][5]) ## Overall outlook I actually think this group has a chance to be one of the strengths of the offense. * **Hawkins** is the dependable every-down back. * **Overton** brings the explosive-change-of-pace element. * **Mickens** has the talent to force his way into the rotation as a freshman if he picks up pass protection and the playbook. * The depth behind them is solid enough that Franklin can rotate fresh legs, which has been a hallmark of his best offenses. ** Edited by likehokies at 7/25/2026, 2:49:36 PM

was a QB for Claiborne. He went awol during the season. That's how bad some of the history has been, but of course, not all of it. I really believe we have someone who knows what he is doing with some money to do it. It still will be tough in this new age, but we're going to be competitive.

I'll 2 to 3 or 4 in the air as well.

Now we are acquiring some. I'm optimistic this OC will make it so. Doesn't he also have a QB coach from PSU who knows what Franklin wants as well as an analyst from Wake who has been successful running offenses. It appears Franklin has put together a very competent staff. If he can keep them together, we will thrive. ** Edited by likehokies at 7/20/2026, 2:21:46 PM

Just kidding! The World Cup is in America again for our 250th. It's an exciting time. We burn down the Brooklyn Bridge, shoot fireworks into spectators in LA, and fans from worldwide seem to be discovering America all over again. I get it. But the real football season is almost upon us. I'm ready! Go Hokies! ** Edited by undefined at 7/6/2026, 8:50:40 AM

That's life.

Was the new influx of money, money well spent? Will we be competitive this year, next, and after? Does VMI still wear red?

Whomever it was, their generosity is gratefully appreciated. I like that it went to academics as well as athletics.

This year: Personally, first for me is that we no more lose those games we are all familiar with: USC 2004, Boise 2010, Syracuse 2021, Vanderbilt 2024, and on and on just finding a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Second, no more games like Duke 2018?, and the Stanford and Maryland bowl games where the rout is on. We beat the teams we are supposed to beat. Those teams who think they are better, fear us and we play like the fear is deserved. There are no weak links. OC's and DC's are solid. HC prepares the team and does not make bone-headed in-game mistakes. If a player goes down, it truly is "next man up." Then let the chips fall where they will. If Congress does not get in on the act and settle things down, especially transferring more than one time, I am not so pessimistic about what could happen after year 1 results are in. Most players and staff will see that something legitimate is being built. Year 2: We spit fire and brimstone.

My son dragged me to two Charlotte Hornet's games in the last couple of weeks, one just last night, and it definitely is not the same game I used to watch. The highlight last night was Kon Kneuppel (sp?), who spent last year at Duke, who set the Hornets single season record for three's in the game against Phoenix. (Where was Barkley?) As is evident in this post, I generally have not kept up with the sport. The last college game I saw live was Dell Curry's freshman year, and basketball was still very much a work-it-into the paint first game. Dale Solomon and Wayne Robinson come to mind. Now all they do is bomb away with pushing it inside an after thought. Keep it on the edge. Shoot long! Sometimes they drive to the middle and look for who is open on the outside to toss it to for the long bomb. One big man goes to the middle and if he gets the rebound good. If he doesn't, well, they'll hit get the three the next time down the court. I've seen the Jokic highlights and I like it. He does something that reminds me of the old even though he's apparently got his modern touch to it. He does twists and turns, fades and hooks and sometimes the long bomb. And despite not being able to jump over a dollar bill seems to get the job done. But where is the mid-range in the game these days? Has it gone extinct? Has defense so improved it has been abandoned? I don't know. Clue me in! Where's the game going to go from here? ** Edited by likehokies at 4/3/2026, 6:39:55 PM

How about a Tech Sideline LSU edition?

Not sure they are any good, or will become a decent unit, but there are some big boys on the roster to work with. One weighs in at 374 lbs, and a few more in the 340's or 350's and more not far behind. Mostly, I'm guessing they need work, but I don't recall we have ever had that many kids with that kind of beef. Reminds me of Texas Tech in the naughts. Are they bad-arsed sumos, or a bunch of zeros? Let's hope they gel over the next couple of years. Go Hokies.

They are contract players for the school? Is the what collegiate athletics is all about? Make them pay rent and royalties then.

Dan Henning, the OC, was ahead of his time.

2027 will be more predictable as far as wins and losses. I hope not what the offense does.

There was no way Pry was winning anything (even in my wildest imagination). Vanderbilt, the first game, told us that. Sorry, but that 2024 team was squandered, pure and simple. If he couldn't produce at least an 8 and 4 record with it, he just never had the stuff to be a head coach.

glue. They were a mean duo. Was forced to watch those Skins games after the Roanoke station stopped carrying my Colts.

It seems we're redoing the weight room, the locker room, and dining hall every few years. Does that mean heat and AC in the field house? Do we need a bowling alley, water park, and super snack bar? Does it mean a super sized trophy case to display all our natties? What's keeping up with the Jones here?

Faber College lives. ** Edited by likehokies at 1/25/2026, 10:30:44 AM

He went to TCU or somewhere in Texas and was a 9.5 or 9.6 hundred yard dash guy who had hamstring problems until some coach taught him how to stretch. I was a Colts fan in those days - and hated when the Roanoke station that carried Baltymore games switched to televising the Deadskins with Jurgensen, who I actually liked, and dying quail Kilmer.

College athletes no longer need to worry about knowing who Charles Martell was, how to compute a compound interest formula, or what the integral from 0 to infinity means. It’s not about intellectual growth anymore — it’s about ESPN and others cashing in. The athletes are just working within the system they were handed.

We Americans got to give acronyms to everything. Enough already.

You're right though. I can't get too excited without seeing the product. Anyway, most of those players from PSU had little to do with their record this past year. All we can rely on basically are recruiting rankings (for whatever they are worth) out of high school which historically, in general, give us some idea how they might turn out. Grunkemeyer (and maybe a few more) who had some significant data points was an exception who played much of the season and we can at least feel confident that he is more than an ankle passer. So that's a bonus right there, IMO.