The first weekend after being officially named the head coach at Virginia Tech, James Franklin hosted a slew of recruits on campus when the 2025 version of the Hokies hosted Miami. A handful of the recruits were some current and former Penn State commits under Franklin before he got fired.
Franklin picked up his first commitment in the Class of 2026 in Blacksburg on Tuesday night when four-star running back Messiah Mickens committed to the Hokies, becoming the first four-star RB commit since 2009 at Virginia Tech.
This weekend, Virginia Tech will be in Charlottesville to play the Cavaliers in the annual Commonwealth Clash. Despite interim coach Philip Montgomery taking his team on the road, Franklin will be hard at work hosting more recruits. One priority recruit announced on his X account that he'll be taking an official visit.
Virginia Tech to host four-star wide receiver Davion Brown
Four-star wide receiver Davion Brown, who hails from Richmond, will take an official visit just a few days before the Dec. 3 early-signing day. He committed to Penn State and Franklin, but de-committed when he was fired. He recently took a visit to Maryland, but now that Franklin is on board in Blacksburg, he's locked in a trip there this weekend.
I’ll be in Blacksburg this weekend for my OV!! #gohokies?? #VA @coachjfranklin @chrismahon_ @HokiesFB @tesfootball pic.twitter.com/OstOfjhY5p
— Davion “fatrat” brown (@davion__brown) November 26, 2025
Brown visited Virginia Tech before committing to Penn State in the spring, but now that Franklin is there, you have to like the chances that he re-commits to Franklin and stays in-state to play his college football.
This season, Brown had 26 receptions for 638 yards and nine touchdowns. That's some eye-opening production. He also had 31 carries for 284 yards and eight touchdowns rushing. The 6-foot-1 Brown is a playmaker, and you would have to think that Franklin is in the driver's seat to land him. There's nothing like playing your college football in your home state.