When James Franklin was fired at Virginia Tech in mid-November, he had the luxury of being around the team and getting a good feel with the roster, more than most coaches hired at a new school. After being fired from Penn State in October, he was able to get hired and boots on the ground before the 2025 season ended.
When the dust settled on the season and Franklin's era officially began in Blacksburg, he hit the ground running on retainment. He is bringing back wide receivers coach Fontel Mines, who was someone who needed to be retained. He is also bringing back key players from the last couple of seasons, along with talent through the Transfer Portal. One player coming back is wide receiver Ayden Greene. When it comes to the talented receiver coming back, Mines, his position coach, had a blunt answer.
Virginia Tech wide receivers coach Fontel Mines has a blunt answer for Ayden Greene returning for the 2026 season
Greene has always been seen as a receiver ready for a breakout season. That season, as expected, came in 2025. The 6-foot-2 Knoxville, Tennessee native had 31 catches for 516 yards and three touchdowns. He played in 11 games, but missed the regular season final at Virginia on Thanksgiving Weekend. It was a big loss for quarterback Kyron Drones, who struggled to throw the ball, and his receivers struggled to get open.
Regardless, retaining Greene is big for incoming quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer. Mines had a blunt response.
"Huge,'' said Mines.
That is a bit of an understatement. It is huge that he's going to be back and healthy. When he was healthy, he made some big plays on the outside for the Hokies, going all the way back to the Duke's Mayo Bowl last year. A fresh start with a new quarterback and new system could be just what he needs to have an even better season in 2026. If he does, then the Hokies' offense will have a better look to it than it did in 2025.