Collegiate Times

Virginia Tech's strength on offense has always been its depth in the running game.

Lost in the hype of the talented freshmen duo of Ryan Williams and David Wilson has been the solid play of redshirt sophomore Josh Oglesby. Despite seeing limited carries, the second-year backup has made his presence felt on the field, never more so than in his performance against Duke last Saturday.

"I didn't really pay much attention to (the hype)," Oglesby said. "I know what it's like to come in and play without experience, so I knew that I'd have to step up over the season."

Oglesby ran the ball for 59 yards on only six carries last Saturday and tallied the first two touchdowns of his collegiate career. Averaging more than six yards per carry on the season, "J.O." is making the most of his playing time and proving to be yet another spark plug in an already electrifying Hokie run game.

"He's figured out how to turn it loose," said Billy Hite, Tech running backs coach. "He has no hesitation out there, and his vision is outstanding."

Hite has had a close relationship with Oglesby since he was in high school.

Hite, a college running back in his own right, backed up Ike Ogelsby, Josh's father, when the two played for the University of North Carolina.

"We stayed close after college," Hite said. "I heard about Josh over the years and was finally able to meet him his junior year of high school."

Since coming to Tech, injuries have hampered Oglesby from playing at his full potential. A sprained ankle last year and a pulled hamstring during preseason practice this season have prevented him from getting a shot at the No. 1 tailback spot, but his persistence has helped him develop into another quality back for Tech.

"He's always had my trust that he could see success, we're just finally seeing him healthy," Hite said. "Beamer has even said there's something different about the way he's running."

"J.O. can do things just as well as I can," Williams, the current starter, said. "He can do it all, break tackles - we complement each other well. When he had those two touchdowns against Duke, I was real proud of him."

Since Oglesby's emergence as a legitimate playmaker, Tech's backfield continues to look more and more crowded. The situation could only grow more confusing with the return of Darren Evans at seasons end, but the backfield doesn't seem too concerned.

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