Beamer a bit surprised by Hokies' No. 6 ranking

BLACKSBURG

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, whose team has to replace seven starters from last season's defense, was surprised to see the results of the preseason coaches' poll released a few hours before the Hokies opened camp Friday.

Tech will begin the year ranked No. 6 and its opening opponent, Boise State, is ranked No. 5. That's the highest either program has ever been ranked in the preseason.

The Hokies were No. 7 at the beginning of last season and in 2005. The Broncos are coming off an unbeaten season and return all but two starters.

"I thought Boise was going to be about No. 2 and I thought we were going to be about No. 9," said Beamer, who is one of the 59 coaches with a vote. He declined to reveal his ballot.

Rivers unlikely to play against Boise State

Facing such a high-octane offense as Boise State's in the opener without their top returning tackler was not what the Hokies had in mind, but that now appears the reality. Linebacker Barquell Rivers, who had 96 tackles in 2009, did not participate in the Hokies' first practice and athletic trainer Mike Goforth said he's unlikely to be ready for the Sept. 6 game against the Broncos.

Rivers tore a quadriceps muscle during winter workouts and required surgery. His recovery is ahead of schedule, and Goforth expects he could be cleared to play within the first month of the season.

The good news is that Rivers' replacement, third-year sophomore Bruce Taylor, has won over the coaching staff.

"He's a big-time football player," defensive coordinator Bud Foster said of the former four-star recruit. "He's matured and grown up. He's ready to step in that role."

For his part, Taylor seems unfazed by the prospect of making his first career start against a top-five team.

"That's why I came to Tech," he said, "to play big-time football and to play in these kinds of games."

Athletic trainer gives injury update on team

Goforth addressed the Hokies' other injury news Friday, most notably the absence of receiver and kickoff return specialist Dyrell Roberts.

Roberts, he said, is recovering from a hernia surgery three weeks ago and will be back practicing in 1-2 weeks.

Michael Via, the Hokies' top reserve offensive lineman, is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the spring. Goforth said Via "is looking great" - including a freshly added 20-plus pounds of mostly muscle - and should be cleared to play in the first game.

Other previous injuries to starting left guard Greg Nosal (shoulder, hamstring) and backup linemen Vinston Painter (knee) and Andrew Miller (shoulder) have healed. All three are cleared for practice. The same is true of linebacker and special teams ace Zach Luckett (knee).

Evans is back, but Lewis calls it quits

On the same day the Hokies got to see one tailback return to old form from injury, they lost another, who simply saw the writing on the wall.

Darren Evans, who rushed for 1,265 yards as a freshman in 2008 before tearing his ACL this time last year, began practice Friday without a knee brace or even a protective sleeve. He looked chiseled, despite bulking up to 220 pounds.

"He's had a great summer, " Goforth said.

Kenny Lewis Jr., however, decided to give up football after meeting with Beamer on Friday. Lewis was the Hokies' starting tailback in 2008 until he ruptured his Achilles in the fifth game. Because of complications, he missed all of 2009, too.

After attempting a comeback this spring, Lewis, a fifth-year senior who played three years of pro baseball before coming to Tech, realized the climb was too steep.

He finished his career with 657 yards and nine touchdowns rushing.

Defensive coordinator busy rebuilding unit

The Hokies face a rebuilding job on defense, but Foster is no stranger to such tasks. Entering the 2006 season, he had to replace three-quarters of the previous year's defensive line, two starting defensive backs and an outside linebacker - almost identical to the holes he's filling this fall.

Despite those losses, the Hokies led the nation in total defense in 2006 and Foster won the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top assistant coach. So can he do it again?

"We'll find out here soon," he said. "But I do like the athletes we have... I'm excited about this group."