by KYLE TUCKER , The Virginian-Pilot

BLACKSBURG

There wasn't a happier man in Blacksburg on Thursday than Billy Hite. As Virginia Tech opened preseason football practice, the Hokies' running backs coach couldn't quit grinning. His speech was impeded by borderline giggles.

Who could blame him? A case could be made that no team this side of Southern California has stockpiled as much talent at tailback as Tech. Three of Hite's top four backs were high school All-Americans.

The other, Josh Oglesby, is a weight room warrior who has been feverishly trying to wrestle playing time away from the others. Hite called his current backfield "the best top to bottom" that he's ever had.

"Before, I might've had two great ones and two good ones," he said. "But right now, any of those four guys, you can shake them up in a bag, pull one out and put them in the game. They're special."

Last year's starter, Darren Evans, returns after rushing for 1,265 yards - a school record for freshmen. That came after a high school career in which he plowed through defenses for more than 7,000 yards.

This year's spring star, Ryan Williams, was rated the nation's No. 3 running back in high school by Rivals.com and is bursting at the seams after a redshirt season at Tech. He averaged more than 10 yards per touch in three spring scrimmages.

And now true freshman David Wilson has entered the fray, fresh off a summer of all-star games in which he dazzled. Rated the No.\4 back in last year's recruiting class by Rivals, he averaged more than 11 yards per carry over his final two high school seasons.

And Wilson has wasted little time wowing the Hokies coaches. He posted a team-best 4.3-second time in the 40-yard dash in summer testing.

"I think we're fortunate," head coach Frank Beamer said. "I told Billy the other day, 'I think we're back like it used to be: Don't screw them up in practice and make sure they get to the bus.' "

For years, Tech's other assistant coaches - even Beamer himself - joked that Hite had the easiest job in college football . Just roll out the balls in practice, put his feet up and watch a stable of star runners go.

The Hokies have had a steady stream of tailback talent during Hite's 31 years with the program. He has coached 26 players who went on to sign NFL contracts. He has coached nine of the school's top 11 career rushing leaders.

During that time, Hite has almost always had a two-back attack. That was especially true early this decade. From 1999 to 2005, the Hokies' No. 2 tailback averaged 115 carries and 617 yards per season.

Tech's two-headed monster was never better than when Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones - dubbed "The Untouchables" - shared the rushing role. In 2002, Suggs piled up 1,325 yards and Jones amassed 871.

"We're at our best when we can keep guys fresh like that," Beamer said.

But over the past three seasons, Tech has failed to find a solid second rusher. Since 2006, the Hokies' No. 2 back has averaged just 58 carries and 219 yards per season.

In fact, Evans' 287 carries last season were the most for a Tech tailback since 1981.

"There was a talent drop-off between the first one and the second one, and I had to make a decision," Hite said. "But that's not the problem right now. Not at all."

Now, finally, the Hokies find themselves back with their old, wonderful problem. How do they find enough carries to keep so many good tailbacks happy?

Hite said the players will help make that decision based on how they perform over the next month of training camp. But even he knows it's not that simple.

"None of us are the same running back," Williams said. "We've got David Wilson, who's the speed guy. We've got Darren Evans, the power guy. You've got me, the shifty back who runs every which way. And you've got Josh Oglesby, who's a good combination of all three. Really, all four of us could start."

So the Hokies coaches are already working on new formations , trying to find ways in which more than one of their budding playmakers can be on the field at the same time.

"Hey, USC does it," Williams said, pointing out that each of the Trojans' top three tailbacks last season - all also high school All-Americans - had at least 600 yards. "If we can do that, all stay fresh, all go to The League with fresh legs up under us, that would be great."

That would be just fine with Hite and the Hokies, too.

running tough A look back at Tech's tailback production over the past decade:

2008 Carries Yards

Darren Evans 287 1,265

Kenny Lewis Jr. 64 237

Josh Oglesby 38 88

2007

Branden Ore 267 992

Kenny Lewis Jr. 57 205

Jahre Cheeseman 21 133

2006

Branden Ore 241 1,137

Kenny Lewis Jr. 54 215

George Bell 35 107

2005

Cedric Humes 162 752

Branden Ore 109 647

Mike Imoh 106 419

2004

Mike Imoh 158 720

Cedric Humes 130 605

Justin Hamilton 75 336

2003 Carrries Yards

Kevin Jones 281 1,647

Cedric Humes 65 380

Mike Imoh 22 86

2002

Lee Suggs 257 1,325

Kevin Jones 160 871

Doug Easlick 19 92

2001

Kevin Jones 175 957

Keith Burnell 149 708

Jarrett Ferguson 35 156

2000

Lee Suggs 222 1,207

Andre Kendrick 107 547

Jarrett Ferguson 40 210

1999

Shyrone Stith 171 840

Andre Kendrick 88 562

Lee Suggs 45 122

Virginia Tech's stacked backfield ...

Class of 2009 True freshman David Wilson was rated the nation's No.?4 running back by Rivals.com . He was named MVP of the Junior World Championship this summer, rushing for 414 yards (12.5 per carry) in three games for Team U S A.

Class of 2008 Redshirt freshman Ryan Williams was rated the nation's No. 3 running back by Rivals.com . He was electric in Tech's spring game in April, taking a screen pass 56 yards for a touchdown on his first play.

Class of 2007 Redshirt sophomore Darren Evans was a Parade All-American in high school. For the Hokies last fall, he piled up 1,265 yards - a school record for freshmen - and 11 touchdowns, earning freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News.

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