If there is someone who knows what having the Virginia Tech football program back and being a national brand is like, it's former wide receiver Eddie Royal. If there were someone who could quickly flip the program and wake it up, it would be James Franklin.
On Saturday, the ACC Huddle crew was in Charlottesville for the season opener between North Carolina State and Virginia. The crew discussed the hiring of Franklin in Blacksburg, and Royal didn't mince words about what Franklin needs to accomplish and accomplish early in his Virginia Tech tenure.
Eddie Royal explains James Franklin's early to-do list at Virginia Tech
Royal explained what he would like Franklin and the Hokies' new staff to accomplish early in the 2026 season against what is a favorable schedule. However, that doesn't always mean success.
"Just get out of the gate, and you have to win early to get the momentum rolling early,'' said Royal. "Find some form of identity on offense, whether that's running the ball or throwing the ball; you have some type of identity. They lacked that the last couple of years. Just look sharp like a professional program. (Franklin)'s preached it, he's got it all aligned; now it's time to line it up and play football.''
Winning early is certainly something that is possible. Home games with VMI and Old Dominion should get the Hokies off to a good start, before interesting road games at Maryland to close out the non-conference schedule and Boston College to open ACC play. Then things get tougher over the last eight weeks of conference play.
There are a lot of unknowns about Virginia Tech this season. To be honest, there isn't anywhere to go but up. Coming off a 3-9 2025 season that saw Brent Pry fired as head coach, then rehired by Franklin as his defensive coordinator, as he was at Penn State before he left to become the head coach at Virginia Tech. That could end up being one of the more underrated moves this offseason.
Offensively, it would help the Hokies if Ethan grunkemeyer picks up where he left off last season at Penn State. It can't be stated enough how important a stretch it was, with him being able to come over to Virginia Tech and be given the keys to the offense right away. The running game should be good as long as the offensive line can hold up, while there are some weapons in the passing game with the tight ends and wide receivers.
Again, there is nowhere to go but up after the last couple of seasons. Franklin's teams have always found a way to form a quick identity, and that needs to be the case again in 2026.
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