When you dive into the annals of Virginia Tech football, names like Frank Beamer, Bruce Smith, Michael Vick, Bud Foster, and Corey Moore shine brightly. Among these legends stands former defensive tackle J.C. Price, a pivotal figure in the Hokies' ascent during the 1990s.
Price made his mark as a key starter, earning third-team All-American honors in 1995. That year, he was instrumental in Virginia Tech’s impressive 10-2 season, culminating in a dominant victory over the favored Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl.
Following his collegiate success, Price was drafted in the third round by the Carolina Panthers in the 1996 NFL Draft. His NFL journey was unfortunately cut short by injuries, leading him to pivot towards coaching.
Starting at Radford High School, he soon found himself back with Virginia Tech as a graduate assistant under Beamer and Foster in 2002. Price then spent eight years at James Madison as the defensive line coach before moving to Marshall in 2012.
During his nine seasons with the Thundering Herd, Price took on the role of co-defensive coordinator for his last three years. In 2021, he returned to Virginia Tech, stepping up as interim head coach after Justin Fuente's departure-a dream role for the devoted Hokie.
In 2022, under new head coach Brent Pry, Price served as associate head coach and defensive line coach. However, when Pry was let go in September and James Franklin took the helm, Price found himself without a position.
Now, Price embarks on a new chapter as the defensive line coach at East Tennessee State. Though the move to Johnson City is just a 2.5-hour drive from Blacksburg, leaving Virginia Tech was bittersweet for Price. He explored numerous opportunities to remain in the New River Valley, even considering non-coaching roles, but ultimately had to move on.
In a revealing interview on the Tech Sideline podcast with Will Stewart and Andy Bitter, Price shared his journey and the challenges he faced. It’s a conversation well worth tuning into for any Hokie fan.