Top uncommitted RB Messiah Mickens adds to big recruiting weekend at Virginia Tech

It’s a massive weekend in Blacksburg as Virginia Tech looks to upset Miami. On the recruiting front, it’s an even bigger weekend for the Hokies and incoming head coach James Franklin.

Myriad current and former Penn State commits are inside Lane Stadium. Add Harrisburg (Pa.) four-star running back Messiah Mickens to the list. The top uncommitted running back in the 2026 cycle is also in attendance to get a look at the ACC program, according to Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong.

“I think it’s a good hire for coach Franklin to get back on the field,” Mickens said.

Mickens is one of the latest to back off his commitment to Penn State. He’s already got a new list of finalists, too. Earlier this week, he told Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett that he won’t sign with PSU and is now considering three schools: Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Indiana.

He also said that he’ll announce his decision on Dec. 3. Despite not including Virginia Tech in his recent announcement, he’s popped up in Blacksburg and is checking out the Hokies alongside many others with PSU ties.

Mickens took an official visit to Indiana last week and is scheduled to take an OV to Oklahoma next weekend. He is the No. 228 overall prospect and No. 17 RB in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies.

The 5-foot-11 burner was the longest-tenured commit in Penn State’s 2026 class. He pledged to the in-state program as a sophomore and even stayed in the mix in the immediate aftermath of Franklin’s firing last month. With plenty of interest from other schools, though, Mickens has opted to look elsewhere with National Signing Day less than two weeks away.

More on Virginia Tech’s big weekend

Franklin is hitting the ground running on the recruiting trail, and with not much time left until NSD, he’s looking to make a splash with many of the recruits that previously committed to him in Happy Valley.

The following Penn State commits are also scheduled to be on campus: Four-star safety Matt Sieg, four-star tight end Pierce Petersohn, Rivals four-star offensive tackle Marlen Bright, Rivals four-star linebacker Mathieu Lamah and three-star interior offensive lineman Benajmin Eziuka.

Additionally, former PSU four-star quarterback commit Troy Huhn and former three-star offensive tackle pledge Roseby Lubintus are among those also expected. Mickens is arguably the biggest name to make the trip, though.

Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong previewed the monster recruiting weekend earlier this week.