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Hokies' Receiving Corps Takes A Hit - July 3rd, 2008

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

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Virginia Tech, once again a likely top 10 preseason team this year, could have the least impressive group of wide receiver threats of any big-time program with the loss of junior Brandon Dillard to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Dillard figured to play a major role this season, because Tech lost seniors Eddie Royal, Justin Harper, Josh Morgan and Josh Hyman from last year's team. Dillard never caught a pass in a regular-season game but showed major promise during the spring, including a 49-yard run off a reverse and 25-yard TD catch in the spring game.

"Brandon caught a ball and just went to turn up field and blew it," trainer Mike Goforth said. "It's crazy. I have not had this injury since I've been here [10 years] ... never in all my years of athletic training, period.”

Dillard, listed as the starting flanker following the spring, will have surgery next week and will need 4-6 months of rehab.

"I'm just going to try and turn this negative into a positive," said Dillard, who ran a 4.28 40-yard dash this spring – the eighth-fastest time in program history. "I'll use this as an opportunity to teach the young guys, and even though I won't be playing this year, I'll still be cheering on my teammates. I'm going to get this surgery done, start rehabbing and slowly start trying to work my way back."

The Hokies’ only receivers with game experience are junior Ike Whitaker, who converted from quarterback last season and has three career catches, and sophomore Zach Luckett, who has two career catches. Redshirt freshman walk-on Ervin Garner was listed as the No. 2 flanker behind Dillard, with redshirt freshmen Patrick Terry and Jacob Sykes behind Garner on the depth chart.

 

Danny Coale, Whitaker and Cory Holt could compete for Dillard’s spot, along with some members of the incoming recruiting class. Macho Harris (one of the best names in college football), the Hokies' All-American cornerback who worked at receiver this spring, now may wind up playing more offense than originally anticipated now.

The Hokies begin practice Aug. 4.

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