Hokies Camp 2009, Volume 10 (Tailback edition) ...

Aaaaaaaaaannnnd ... we’re back. For a double-dose this evening. I figured you fine folks would want an update on starting RB Darren Evans’ injured knee.

First, a recap of how it happened: Evans was running a sweep in Friday’s practice. He planted his foot to cut. But instead of the turf, he planted his foot into freshman DE James Gayle’s foot.

The knee twisted and Evans said he heard a pop.

“That’s the scariest thing,” he said, “especially after how hard I worked this year.”

Turned out to be just a sprain, though. Evans says it's like a bad bruise. He remains in a blue non-contact practice jersey, but his activity is increasing.

“I’m running on it now,” he said. “I’m not cutting like I want to. I’m not moving like I want to, but it has gotten a lot better. I’m about 70 percent. It’s been getting a lot better each day.”

That’s good news for the Hokies. Even better news, though, is that Tech is so loaded in the backfield. Because at some point over the course of this season – maybe even again this camp – odds are good that Evans will be banged up at least a little.

Or a lot. Kenny Lewis Jr., who began last fall as the starter, still has not recovered from a blown Achilles halfway through last season.

One of the oldest football cliches is: You can never have enough tailbacks. But coaches say it for a reason.

And lucky for the Hokies, for the first time in a long time, they have FOUR very viable tailbacks. How long has it been since they could say that? Funny you should ask.

Check out the numbers of the top three tailbacks’ production over the last decade. Then be sure to read what The Forgotten Guy (Josh Oglesby) has to say about his role in carrying the rushing load this fall ...

TECH’S TAILBACK PRODUCTION OVER THE LAST DECADE

2008 Darren Evans    287 carries    1,265 yards

Kenny Lewis Jr.    64 carries    237 yards

Josh Oglesby    38 carries    88 yards

2007 Branden Ore        267 carries    992 yards

Kenny Lewis Jr.    57 carries    205 yards

Jahre Cheeseman    21 carries    133 yards

2006 Branden Ore        241 carries    1,137 yards

Kenny Lewis Jr.    54 carries    215 yards

George Bell        35 carries    107 yards

2005 Cedric Humes    162 carries    752 yards

Branden Ore        109 carries    647 yards

Mike Imoh        106 carries    419 yards

2004 Mike Imoh        158 carries    720 yards

Cedric Humes    130 carries    605 yards

Justin Hamilton    75 carries    336 yards

2003 Kevin Jones        281 carries    1,647 yards

Cedric Humes    65 carries    380 yards

Mike Imoh        22 carries    86 yards

2002 Lee Suggs        257 carries    1,325 yards

Kevin Jones        160 carries    871 yards

Doug Easlick        19 carries    92 yards

2001 Kevin Jones        175 carries    957 yards

Keith Burnell        149 carries    708 yards

Jarrett Ferguson    35 carries    156 yards

2000 Lee Suggs        222 carries    1,207 yards

Andre Kendrick    107 carries    547 yards

Jarrett Ferguson    40 carries    210 yards

1999 Shyrone Stith    171 carries    840 yards

Andre Kendrick    88 carries    562 yards

Lee Suggs        45 carries    122 yards

*** NOTE: From 1999 to 2005, Tech’s No. 2 tailback averaged 115 carries and 617 yards per season. The last three seasons, Tech’s No. 2 back has averaged just 58 carries and 219 yards. The 2005 season is the only time in the last decade that the Hokies have managed to get three different tailbacks at least 100 carries. In fact, only twice has Tech’s third back managed more than 45 carries.

RB JOSH OGLESBY

ON ALL THE INK AND HYPE ABOUT TECH’S OTHER THREE TAILBACKS – EVANS, WILLIAMS AND WILSON – WHO WERE ALL HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICANS: “I really haven’t been reading nothing. I know about them. They’re my teammates. I’ve heard about them in the locker room a little bit. I already knew about Ryan. David, I keep up with track, so I’ve seen some of his stuff. He’s a fast kid.”

ON WHETHER HE FEELS LIKE THE FORGOTTEN GUY RIGHT NOW: “To people outside of Virginia Tech, of course, because they don’t have nothing to look at but Web sites. I wasn’t all that highly recruited. My high school wasn’t that good. I didn’t get the ball a whole bunch. So I’m pretty used to it, coming in with Darren, his 62 touchdowns. Ryan, an Army All-American. It is what it is.”

ON BEING NO. 2 ON THE DEPTH CHART DESPITE ALL THAT RIGHT NOW: “Oh, it’s No. 2? I didn’t even know that. This is how I see it: Darren’s No. 1. He did his thing last season. But ain’t no way you can make it through the season with just one running back. People are going to get hurt, banged up. We’ve got a tough schedule. I’m just trying to be ready if I get called on. I was No. 2 last year and how many carries did I get? Thirty-eight? You know what I mean? So I don’t even pay attention to that.”

ON TRYING TO COMBAT HIS HIGHLY-RATED COMPETITION THIS SUMMER IN THE WEIGHT ROOM: “I approached it a little different this summer. I’m a pretty well-conditioned guy. I just wanted to give my body a little break this summer. I ran hard. I was rehabbing my ankle and my knee. I didn’t work my body as hard. I mean, I still made Super Iron.”

ON THIS BEING AN EXCITING SEASON WITH SUCH A TALENTED BACKFIELD: “It’s definitely exciting. I’m just ready to see what the defenses are going to do to show us who’s going to have to go out there. Is one guy going to be able to get it done? Are we going to have to use a lot of guys, fresh legs? That’s what I’m really ready to see. Last season, that wasn’t fun. I didn’t come here to do that. All the coaches know I didn’t come here to do that. So I’m just trying to come out here and compete and when I get called on, get out there.”

ON WHETHER THERE’S ANY NERVOUSNESS ABOUT HIS STATUS WHEN TECH KEEPS BRINGING IN MORE AND MORE ALL-AMERICAN RECRUITS: “No, man. This is Virginia Tech. Who’d we have before? Elan (Lewis), an Army All-American. My friend George Bell, an Army All-American. Branden Ore, who was under-recruited and came in and became first-team All-ACC. So, I’m sure the players will keep bringing in players.”

ON HIS MINDSET FOR 2009: “My mindset: We’re not having a season like last year. I’m not watching. I’m going to get some playing time one way or the other. I’m going to get some. And it’s going to be at running back. I’m going to score some touchdowns. I’m going to get some yards. I’m going to contribute to the team. I know that for sure. I’m positive about that.”

ON WHAT RB COACH BILLY HITE HAS SAID ABOUT PLAYING TIME: “He hasn’t had to say nothing. He just told me to pick up where I left off in the spring. But he didn’t have to say a word, because I’m not doing what I did last year. I’m going to play. He’s told me just to keep up the good work and be ready.”

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