Virginia Tech’s backfield picture has gotten a little more interesting, and not in the way many expected.
When James Franklin met with the media Tuesday evening for his final fall camp update, the running back room was one of the spots he was willing to open up about. The top of the depth chart still looks set with Marcellous Hawkins and Jeff Overton Jr., but the real surprise is what’s happening behind them.
Franklin said the Hokies are in a live competition for the No. 3 job between Messiah Mickens and Tyler Mason, with special teams work factoring into the decision.
"It's been good," said Franklin of the running back room. "We kind of have a battle right now between Messiah Mickens and Tyler Mason.
Those two are battling for the third back, and part of that battle is who is going to have the more significant role on special teams. That's been an interesting battle."
That is a notable shift from the early expectation that Bill Davis would slide into that role. Davis, the Louisiana transfer and part of Franklin’s first transfer class at Virginia Tech, arrived with a proven résumé: 357 carries, 1,752 rushing yards, a 4.9 yards-per-carry average and 18 touchdowns in college.
Franklin has already praised Davis’ physical transformation, saying, "Bill has been an exciting one. I think you guys saw when he first got here, he was a cheeseburger away from 250 pounds. He has changed his body dramatically and is moving well."
Davis is now listed at 228 pounds, but his grip on the No. 3 spot appears to have loosened after he was a notable absence from recent practices, according to TechSideline’s Andy Bitter. That has opened the door for Mickens and Mason to make their case as the 2026 season approaches.
Mason, a redshirt sophomore and holdover from the Brent Pry era, drew especially strong praise from Franklin.
"Mason has been one of the most improved guys in our program," Franklin said, giving the redshirt sophomore a vote of confidence. "From the time we got here, and really since spring ball, he's improved tremendously.
It's really hard to evaluate a running back unless you're live. We've only been able to do so much live work.
We've got two guys that we've at least gotten some game reps on, and we've seen some in the scrimmages that we've had."
The Mount Airy, North Carolina, native has appeared in seven career games, with 13 rushing attempts for 59 yards, three catches and one touchdown. He came to Virginia Tech as a three-star recruit in the 2024 class after piling up more than 6,000 rushing yards in high school, and his speed has already helped him earn time, mostly on special teams.
Mickens brings a different kind of buzz. The four-star freshman is the first high school recruit Franklin signed at Virginia Tech, and his path to Blacksburg carried plenty of attention. After Penn State dismissed Franklin, Mickens reopened his recruitment and drew interest from several of the country’s top programs before ultimately sticking with the Hokies.
The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native is listed at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds and rushed for nearly 4,000 yards in high school. If he can win this battle, the payoff could come quickly.
Even with the uncertainty at No. 3, Franklin likes the overall shape of the room.
"I've been pleased with the group," Franklin said. "I think we'll have three, possibly four, backs that can go into the game and play well enough to allow us to win."
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