Senior running back for Virginia Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′10″ · 223 lb · Oklahoma City, OK · Putnam City
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
rushing yards · 2026
4 TD · 4.9 per carry · 2 catches
2 games into 2026 so far -- Backed by 12 car · 69 yds · 3 TD -- top 1% rushing TDs game. -- Best game: 69 rush yds, 3 TD, vs VMI
The play that turned itSwung Virginia Tech from 58% to 89% to win.California at Virginia Tech · 42-34
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 running back for Virginia Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
Aura™ · Him Watch
-65aura tax
87th pctl our rushing-value metric (wEPA) RBs · 140 qualified, n=18
— the tape outruns the hype.Buzz vs Tape
His production sits in the 88th percentile among qualified RBs this season, well ahead of 23rd-percentile attention — a gap of 65 points between tape and volume.
“Marcellous Hawkins has been named to the @DoakWalkerAward Watch List! The Doak Walker Award honors the nation’s premier running back.”
Fan claims · every quote verified verbatim
Franklin needed to flush as much of the 3-9 2025 season as he could. Again, there was some retention of key players, including running backs Marcellous Hawkins and Jeffrey Overton, Jr.
Based on 1 comment from 1 poster across 1 thread · Jun 30, 2026 · via hokies
Marcellous Hawkins
Hits the crease and outruns the angle. Marcellous Hawkins has played for two head coaches in two seasons at Virginia Tech. The receipt on tape: 69 rush yds, 3 rush TD against VMI, Week 1, 2026.
112 RUSH YDS · 4 RUSH TD · 23 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2025–2026
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Brent Pry → James Franklin. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Elite: rush tds (93rd percentile). Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 56.0 YDS/g, 4.8 YPC, 2.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
James Franklin
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Player standing · 2026
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #12 of 38 ACC RBs
22% estimated, 95% confidence interval 19–25%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Virginia Tech | 23 | 112 | 4.9 | 4 | -- |
| 2025 | Virginia Tech | 118 | 749 | 6.3 | 1 | -- |
| Career | 141 | 861 | 6.1 | 5 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Virginia Tech | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | Virginia Tech | 12 | 74 | 6.2 | 1 | -- |
| Career | 14 | 92 | 6.6 | 1 | -- |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 73–3
vs VMI
69 rush yds (12 car) · 3 TD
Dominant 70-point win at home against VMI.
With Q. Brown — 6 rec · 109 yds · 1 TD · E. Grunkemeyer — 224 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · 6 rush yds (2 car)
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 73-3vs VMI | 12 | 69 | 5.8 | 3 | 14 | Season-high 69 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 44-21vs Old Dominion | 11 | 43 | 3.9 | 1 | 20 | |
| Total | 23 | 112 | 4.8 | 4 | 20 |
Play style
Cuts upfield fast. Designed to find the crease, not run through the line.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Virginia Tech
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Virginia Tech
Returning around him
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Virginia Tech · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #27 · 2026 recruiting class #30
Player DNA
Cuts upfield fast. Designed to find the crease, not run through the line.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Chris Rodriguez Jr.’s 2021 season.
Matches Chris on
Differs from Chris on
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Bo Jackson’s path through Ohio State.
Matches Bo on
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Dylan Carson's freshman season at Air Force (2023).
Matches Dylan on
Differs from Dylan on
Player DNA
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peaked at #175 this season.
3 more on the roster · Virginia Tech team page