Virginia Tech has taken in yet another former Penn Stater. Journey Brown, a former Nittany Lion running back, announced on Sunday that he has joined head coach James Franklin's coaching staff in Blacksburg, Va.
"Happy to be a Hokie! Thankful for the opportunity," Brown wrote on his social media post.
Brown played two college seasons before being forced to medically retired. After tallying just eight carries for 44 yards and one touchdown as a redshirt freshman in 2018, he surged the following year. In 2019, Brown had 129 carries for 890 yards and 12 touchdowns over 13 contests. His rushing touchdown count was good for third in the Big Ten that season and 27th in all of college football (FBS). He ranked fifth in rushing yards in the NCAA as well.
In the Nittany Lions' 53-39 win over Memphis in the Cotton Bowl, Brown had 16 carries for 202 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 56-yard run as well, which was his longest of the game.
He was selected to the AP All-Bowl Team, ESPN All-Bowl Team, Sports Illustrated All-Bowl Team, and earned an All-Big Ten honorable mentioned that year. Pro Football Focus also tabbed him as an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Brown announced his medical retirement on Nov. 11, 2020 due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Former Penn State star running back Journey Brown announced that he’s joining James Franklin at Virginia Tech, saying “Happy to be a Hokie! Thankful for the opportunity.”
— SB (@SamuelBrungo) August 24, 2026
After retiring from football in 2020 due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, he worked in the NASCAR Cup Series. pic.twitter.com/hpx9SMZYvn
Former Penn State running back Journey Brown joins James Franklin's coaching staff at Virginia Tech
Brown joins a Virginia Tech staff that features:
- Norval McKenzie (assistant head coach/run game coordinator/running backs coach)
- Ty Howle (offensive coordinator/tight ends coach)
- Danny O'Brien (quarterbacks coach)
- Fontel Mines (offensive recruiting coordinator/wide receivers coach)
- Matt Moore (offensive line coach)
Franklin also has his assistants in place, including assistant running backs coach Arketa Banks. Howle and O'Brien also joined Franklin's staff after previously being part of his staffs at Penn State. Defensive coordinator Brent Pry, who was the Hokies' former head coach from 2022-25, and associate AD/executive director of football Michael Hazel are also former Nittany Lion staff members.
Brown's coaching designation has yet to be announced, but he's likely to join the running back group in some capacity.
Virginia Tech's running back room doesn't feature any former Penn Staters, though a few players on the roster transferred after the 2025 season and followed Franklin to Blacksburg. That room is headlined by Marcellous Hawkins who tallied 118 carries for 749 yards and one touchdown in 2025. He was the Hokies' most productive rusher last year, playing in 11 games and making nine starts.
The only running back on the roster with Nittany Lion ties is former four-star running back Messiah Mickens. Mickens de-committed from Penn State and committed to Virginia Tech after the coaching change. The Harrisburg, Pa. native was ranked 253rd nationally, 18th at running back, and eighth from Pennsylvania, per 247Sports Composite rankings. According to Scott Roche of Fighting Gobbler, Mickens is a freshman who's worth watching this upcoming season.
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