After Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry as their head football coach last fall, one thing was certain: the search committee needed to nail the next hire. After underwhelming tenures by Justin Fuente and Pry, the next hire needs to be the one who really moves the needle for the fanbase.
Little did anyone know what was about to happen three weeks after Pry was fired. His former boss at Penn State, James Franklin, was fired at State College after three straight Big Ten losses. It was the perfect target at the perfect time for Virginia Tech.
Mission accomplished.
The search committee made it clear to Franklin that he was the guy they wanted, and when the dust settled before Thanksgiving in November, he was named the new coach in Blacksburg. He hit the ground running in terms of making over the roster, adding through the Transfer Portal, and getting some key retention.
One of those players who was retained was running back Marcellous Hawkins. On Thursday at ACC Media Day, the former Division 2 back explained how excited he was to play for Franklin and begin turning around the Hokies' program.
Marcellous Hawkins doesn't mince words about playing under James Franklin at Virginia Tech
Hawkins came to Virginia Tech through the portal last year and made an immediate impact. He played in 11 games last fall before missing the Virginia game with an injury. He carried the ball 118 times for 749 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for a Virginia Tech career-high 167 yards on 21 carries in an overtime win over California last October. What about playing for Franklin?
"It's exciting, man,'' said Hawkins. "Just him coming in with the excitement he has every day, just getting us to just stay excited about what we have ahead. He did a lot of great things in the past. I'm ready to get things rolling with him for the new Virginia Tech.''
Hokies fans are hoping this is the beginning of a new Virginia Tech. Franklin was the home run hire that the school needed to make, and now it's time to see the results on the field, which could take some time rather than having instant success, as some hope they will.
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