Correction: This story has been modified from its original version. The Pirates also use a two-quarterback system. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.

"We're dressing 10 true freshmen and 15 redshirt freshmen," Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer said. "It's a little bit scary ... We lost a couple kids from last year, but we are very impressed with our freshman class."

That is not to say Tech has no veterans on the team, but with only a few at each position, the freshmen will need to step up quickly in order to fend off a hungry East Carolina team.

Here's the breakdown of each side.

With an extremely youthful and inexperienced wide receiving core, along with a large group of running backs with no clear go-to guy, Tech's offense may find its opponent an untimely challenge. At least the recent resolution on who's playing quarterback assures the Hokie of some veteran leadership on that side of the football.

As Beamer announced at a luncheon on Tuesday, sophomore Tyrod Taylor willl redshirt this season, solidifying redshirt-senior Sean Glennon's role at quarterback. Some fans may worry that they'll suffer from losing the quick feet of Taylor, but they could possibly be in better hands with the more traditional passer, Glennon. Since 2004 he has played 30 games, completing 321 times on 548 passes, good for 4,124 yards and 25 touchdowns – and his veteran leadership will be critical this Saturday.

In what appears to be a mirror image, the Pirates also utilize two-quarterbacks.

"It is a very similar situation to Virginia Tech," said ECU head football coach Skip Holtz. "We've got one who's more of a prototype, passing quarterback and one who's far more athletic and can do some more things with his feet."

Coach Holtz announced this week that senior Patrick Pinkney will start at quarterback against Virginia Tech.

"At this point, I don't know if you'll see two quarterbacks," Holtz said. "It is nice to have two quarterbacks with the experience that we have."

Unlike Virginia Tech, ECU's backup, junior Rob Kass, will be dressed and ready to play should things go awry with Pinkney.

Tech's main wide receiver this year was supposed to be flanker Zach Luckett, a redshirt-sophomore out of New Jersey. However, he was suspended indefinitely by Beamer after being arrested for driving under the influence — for the second time — and for driving with a revoked license. With this devastating loss,an inexperienced wide receiving core loses the little experience it had. Tight end Greg Boone, a redshirt junior out of Chesapeake, Va., has stepped up in tpreseason scrimmages on both the receiving and rushing fronts.

Beamer referred to him as one of the most versatile players he'd ever recruited. Tech will need to the Most Valuable Offensive Performer of the Spring to come through. Other receivers to watch include Ike Whitaker and Brandon Dillard.

East Carolina brings three solid wide receivers with it to Charlotte in junior Jama rBryant, sophomore Dwayne Harris, and senior T.J. Lee. They each played in at least 12 of ECU's 13 games last season, with Bryant starting all 13. These three receivers will bring both skill and leadership to an otherwise young and somewhat injury-hampered Pirate offense.

With Branden Ore out of the picture after being kicked off the team last spring, the Hokies will use an uncannily crowded rotation in the running game, using three and even up to six backs.

"We're dressing them all, but I don't know if all of them will play in the game," Beamer said. "Some of them will be on special teams. Tailbacks are good athletes, but we'll see by the end of the week how we get them figured out."

Beamer has named the top three backs as junior Kenny Lewis, redshirt-freshman Darren Evans, and redshirt-freshman Josh Oglesby, in that order. Kenny Lewis had surgery last spring for a recurring shoulder injury, but he has played well in the offseason and is the most experienced at the position.

Redshirt junior Jahre Cheeseman and true freshman Ryan Williams will dress as well, and could feasibly see playing time.

"The most I've ever seen is probably a three running back system, with Auburn (and) Brandon (Jacobs), Cadillac (Williams), and (Ronnie Brown)," Williams said. "If it helps this team win more balls games than I guess that's what they're going to do."

East Carolina had projected senior Dominique Lindsay to start at running back before he twisted his knee two weeks ago during practice. He's now gone for the season.

"It's unfortunate for Dominique because he is a senior, we were counting on him and he was going to start at running back," Holtz said. "But this gives some younger guys who are very talented a chance to step up and see some playing time."

Given this turn of events, three seems like the magic number for running backs this weekend, with East Carolina also bringing three in their rotation. "Brandon Simmons will be the starting tailback," said Holtz. "He will be backed up with Jon Williams and Norman Whitley, who have not played a whole lot. They're very talented, but not very experienced yet."

This is good news for the Hokies, since the Pirates new lead back, senior Brandon Simmons, didn't start last season.

Redshirt sophomore Willie Smith, at 6'6", 280 pounds, transitioned to tight end from having played defense for the Pirates last season.

"I think he's really emerging, to give us a little more of a hammer, "said Holtz. "Willie has really done a nice job."

This big man will be a lot to handle for the Hokie defense come Saturday.

One of the things Glennon has been most criticized for over the years is being sacked. This comes as a result of not just him holding the ball too long, but also because of breakdowns in the offensive line.

This year, the O-line should be much improved.

"We had our offensive line kind of one guy moved here and one guy moved there," Beamer said last season. "They worked hard but we weren't very consistent." Even with the key loss of left tackle Duane Brown, Tech retained right guard Sergio Render, left guard Nick Marshman, center Ryan Schuman and right tackle Ed Wang. These solid linemen each started in at least eight games last season. They will be very important for the Hokies on Saturday because Glennon will need time to find open men down field.

East Carolina's offensive line will be led by 2007 C-USA All-Freshman Team selection DJ Scott at right tackle and junior Sean Allen, taking the place of recovering senior Fred Hicks, at center. Redshirt sophomore Cory Dowless redshirted himself last season to improve his strength and conditioning after making the C-USA All-Freshman team the year before. East Carolina's offensive line will be very solid this year, although still somewhat young.

"This is the most depth we've had on the offensive line yet and I'm really excited," Holtz said.

The East Carolina defense sees seven starters return from last season. Their bright spot is a defensive line that returns three starters. Senior defensive end Zack Slate is a preseason All-Conference Selection. At the other end is junior C.J. Wilson who had seven sacks last season for the Pirates and is sure to be a fly in Sean Glennon's ointment come Saturday. Another defensive end standout, junior defensive end Marcus Hands, will not start but is scheduled to play.

An experienced group of linebackers should also test the Hokies' offensive line. Seniors Quentin Cotton and Pierre Bell have been starting since they were sophomores. Last season against the Hokies, Cotton recorded 14 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.

What may work in the Hokies' favor is the fact that ECU's secondary is inexperienced. Only its strong safety, Van Eskridge, started throughout the entire 2007 season. Eskridge led the team in tackles with 104.

Even though only four starters return for Virginia Tech on defense, Holtz is still wary of the Hokies' ability.

"I don't think anyone can argue with what they've done statistically," said Holtz of the opposing defense. "They lost so many players to the NFL and all I keep hearing is that Virginia Tech's defense is faster and more athletic this year which is really scary to me because I don't know how you improve on last year."

The front seven is anchored by redshirt senior defensive end Orion Martin and redshirt junior Cam Martin at the whip linebacker position. The brothers combined for 136 tackles and eleven sacks last season. Two redshirt seniors, Brett Warren and Purnell Sturdivant, take the places of Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi and fill out the starting linebacker corps.

The new-look secondary will have its hands full this weekend with Bryant and Harris. Filling Brandon Flowers' spot on the field will be junior cornerback Stephan Virgil, who saw action in every game last year but has never started before. Tech still boasts familiar faces in senior cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris who tied for the lead in interceptions with five for the Hokies last season. Junior free safety Kam Chancellor will look to keep the fire burning as he comes off a 79 tackle season. Also keep an eye on true freshman free safety Lorenzo Williams and cornerback Eddie Whitley who will dress and play in Charlotte.

"I've been impressed with those kids," said head coach Frank Beamer of Williams and Whitley. "They're fast, play with a good football sense, and have been playing against the first team group in practice."

Overall, the Pirates are eerily similar to the Hokies on both sides of the football this season. Both teams have a solid "nucleus," as Holtz put it, but each are also throwing new guys into the mix and we will have to wait and see how it all plays out tomorrow.

Virginia Tech will battle East Carolina this Saturday at noon at the Carolina Panthers' Stadium in Charlotte. The game will be televised on ESPN.

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