Hokies Camp 2010, Vol. 28: A closer look at Boise State's run defense ...

Boise State’s defense ranked 28th nationally against the run last season, but that doesn’t tell the whole tale. Against the best backs they faced, the Broncos struggled.

They saw six tailbacks who finished among the top 60 individual rushers in 2009. Those six combined for 140 carries, 804 yards (5.74 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns.

This could be good news for a three-headed Virginia Tech rushing attack that features Ryan Williams (fifth nationally with 1,655 yards last season), Darren Evans (36th nationally with 1,265 yards in 2008) and sophomore sensation David Wilson, who averaged almost 5 yards per carry in preseason scrimmages, prompting coaches to scrap his planned redshirt year.

Williams, Evans and Wilson will be looking to do what some of these guys did against the Broncos in ’09 ...

Ryan Matthews, Fresno State: led the nation in rushing with 1,808 yards (19 carries for 234 yards, 3 TD against Boise)

Vai Taua, Nevada: ranked 17th in the nation with 1,345 yards (24 carries for 160 yards, 1 TD against Boise)

Robert Turbin, Utah State: ranked 20th in the nation with 1,296 yards (14 carries for 61 yards, 1 TD against Boise)

Daniel Porter, Louisiana Tech: ranked 28th in the nation with 1,132 yards (24 carries for 92 yards, 1 TD against Boise)

Seth Smith, New Mexico State: ranked 54th in the nation with 1,016 yards (35 carries for 114 yards against Boise)

DeMaundray Woolridge, Idaho: ranked 59th in the nation with 979 yards (24 carries for 143 yards, 2 TD against Boise)

NOTE: The Broncos also faced top-60 rushers in Oregon’s LaMichael James and Nevada’s Luke Lippincott, but James hadn’t won the job yet and carried just twice (for 22 yards) against Boise and Lippincott was injured after one rush.

* For instant updates on the Hokies, follow me at twitter.com/kyletuckerVP

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