When star running back Darren Evans tore his anterior cruciate ligament Aug. 11, the Hokie Nation mourned his loss, but then quickly looked at the roster for his replacement.
What they saw on the surface was not encouraging considering Evans amassed 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
Redshirt sophomore Josh Oglesby now leads all able-bodied Virginia Tech running backs with 38 carries and 96 yards, and redshirt freshman Ryan Williams and true freshman David Wilson have yet to take a college snap.
However, in his 32nd year at Tech, more consecutive years at one school than any assistant in the country, associate head coach and running backs coach Billy Hite sees vast potential in the young group.
“Well, from top to bottom, it’s probably the best group I’ve ever had here,” Hite said. “I’m really excited about all of them. The big thing is we have to stay healthy. Obviously, losing Darren was devastating to our football team, but these guys got to kick it up a notch.”
Unfortunately for Hite’s impressive stable, staying healthy has proven to be a struggle.
Each of the top four running backs, including Evans, sustained an injury in preseason camp.
Oglesby pulled his hamstring and suffered from a methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infection in his heel that held him out of practice for approximately two weeks.
“I didn’t know what was going on, I felt like someone put a hex on me or something, karma or something, I don’t know what I did bad to somebody,” Oglesby said. “It’s frustrating, it sucks sitting out, especially while we’re getting ready for this season, how bad I wanted to play and be prepared. I felt like I had a little setback, but I got my body good time to rest, so I actually feel good, I feel fresh.
Wilson sustained a level one acromio-clavicular sprain to his shoulder during a scrimmage Aug. 15 and could not take a blow again until the final scrimmage on Aug. 26.
“I have to get used to it, and hopefully I’ll be safe through Alabama and all the way through the season,” Wilson said. “I can’t throw the ball. It’s still sore if I block and stuff like that. Like I said, I got to get used to it and go through. I’d say I’m about 95 percent.”
Only Williams maintained his health throughout practices, though he did suffer a sprained left ankle during the Aug. 22 scrimmage that he played through.
“Coach Hite said you can’t have enough of those guys,” head coach Frank Beamer said. “He’s a wise old man.”
Even with all the injuries and missed practice time, Hite remains so impressed with Williams and Wilson that he puts them a step ahead of former freshman phenomenon Kevin Jones in their progression as players.
“Yes, (Wilson) is, and I’d say right now, he’s probably ahead of Kevin Jones in understanding what we’re doing,” Hite said. “Kevin was another one that struggled early with the passing game. Kevin became a good blocker, but I can tell you right now — Ryan, in all our pass protection drills, he’s been very impressive, and I’d say he’s ahead of Kevin Jones from that standpoint, the way he can pass-block.”
The older Oglesby, currently tied at No. 1 on the depth chart with Williams, is no slouch either.
“Obviously, Josh Oglesby is a powerful runner, he had a great summer preparation,” Hite said. “He made the super iron Hokie in coach Gentry’s strength and conditioning program, and if you’re in that group, you’re elite, you really are.”
The backs themselves certainly do not lack confidence and are not nervous about facing a tough Alabama defense for the season opener.
“Maybe when I walk out on the field for the first play I might be a little nervous ... but I’m usually playing against a great defense every day in practice. Jason Worilds, John Graves, linebacking corps, we got great guys ourselves, so, pretty sure their defense isn’t as good as ours,” Oglesby said.
Wilson also managed to set his heights high for the season, raising expectations mid-interview.
“No, no, I want to average seven yards per carry and 11 touchdowns,” Wilson said.
While the players ooze with confidence, their coaches remain cautious coming into the season.
“The thing these young backs need especially is to get a lot of reps, and obviously they’re missing them right now,” Hite said.
“Yeah, heck yeah. We got (Wilson) who’s running for GW (High School) last year, and that’s a good program, but it’s not quite the same as running against Alabama in a packed house,” Beamer said.
If anyone is ready for the bright lights on Sept. 5, it’s Williams.
“Ryan, I still think he’s a special talent, he really is, and he makes plays, and he really thrives when the lights go on,” Hite said. “I’ve never seen a guy get so excited that if we’re in a scrimmage and there’s a thousand people in the stands or there’s sixty thousand people in the stands, he thrives on all of that.”
With all that freshman talent stockpiled at tailback and the fairly experienced Oglesby, one might ask, who will actually play?
“I know I want my backs to have success, and I had this situation back in 1984 or 1985, somewhere in there, that coming out, I always had the older guy in there, and then once we got into a position on the field I brought the young guys in and let them go,” Hite said. “And really, the young guys overcame, and once they got a few games under their belt, they ended up becoming the guys that were playing all the time. We’ll just have to wait and see how that goes right now.”
When the game against Alabama comes, the best back will play regardless of class.
“They’re going to be thrown into the fire, and I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Hite said. “I think it’s got to be that way, and they’re going to have to be in early in that ball game in the first quarter, and again, I think they’ll be ready ... So, whoever’s hot is going to be the one who’s going to be in there, and if he wants to be in there, he better come out of the blocks right away, because there’s not enough plays in a game to wait around for somebody to get in a rhythm.”
Regardless of who eventually earns the bulk of the carries, the group as a whole appears to be up to the task of maintaining the excellence of the running back position established at Tech.
“The running back tradition at Virginia Tech has been outstanding over the years and I think they’re looking for the challenge,” Hite said.