Virginia Tech Hokies News: Doubting James Franklin, NBA Draft prediction, more

We are a little over two months away from the 2026 college football season beginning. As far as Virginia Tech goes, it will be the first year of James Franklin in Blacksburg in charge of the Hokies. Replacing his former defensive coordinator, Brent Pry, Franklin has made some big changes since arriving in mid-November.

As expected, there was a roster overhaul and a new coaching staff put in place, with some retention of both the roster and some coaches. As weird as it is, it is still weird saying that Brent Pry is back as the defensive coordinator. Something tells me that he'll be fine in that role under Franklin and make a seamless transition back in at Virginia Tech.

As for how things will go next season, BetMGM has the Hokies over/under win total at 6.5. That seems like a tempting number. Seven wins are certainly not out of the question for the Hokies under Franklin this fall.

Former Virginia Tech hooper pegged to be picked in the second round of the NBA Draft

The NBA Draft is next week, and Virginia Tech standout Tobi Lawal is hoping to hear his name called in the second round, possibly late in the round. Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports predicted that Lawal would go late in the second round to the Atlanta Hawks. Another former hooper that played in Blacksburg for Mike Young, Tyler Nickel, was predicted to go a couple of spots ahead of Lawal, 52nd to the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Nickel has a flamethrower jump shot that Vanderbilt used in a wide array of actions to consistent success all season long. The questions about him are the ones every specialist faces: Does he offer enough other than shooting? Will he survive defensively? But anyone who shoots like Nickel and stands at 6-6 will get a shot to make it in the NBA,'' wrote O'Connor.

Virginia Tech fans can agree that Nickel was indeed a flamethrower with his jump shot as a pure shooter from the outside. He left Blacksburg and played his final two seasons at Vanderbilt, making the NCAA Tournament each season.

UNC opens CWS Final on Saturday

North Carolina was the only ACC baseball team to make it to Omaha for the College World Series, and the Tar Heels rolled through their bracket, beating Ole Miss and West Virginia twice to advance to the Championship Series. They will open on Saturday afternoon against Oklahoma in a two-out-of-three series with Game 2 on Sunday and Game 3 on Monday, if necessary.