Hokies' Darren Evans Tears ACL, Out for Season

by furrer4heisman on Aug 11, 2009 8:21 PM EDT Comment 11 comments

Virginia Tech running back Darren Evans tore his left ACL today at practice and will miss the 2009 season, the athletics department announced Tuesday afternoon. Evans was participating in contact drills Tuesday after spraining his left knee during practice Friday.

Evans, a sophomore from Indianapolis, carried most of the Hokies' workload in 2008 after Kenny Lewis ruptured his left Achilles' tendon in the Western Kentucky game. Evans ran for 1,265 yards, averaged 4.4 yards per carry and scored 11 touchdowns last season. He was named second team All-ACC and was the MVP of the Hokies' Orange Bowl win over Cincinnati.

Josh Oglesby, also a sophomore, is currently listed as the Hokies' No. 2 running back on the depth chart. Freshmen Ryan Williams and David Wilson are also expected to compete for playing time.

Obviously this is a big blow for Tech, but the same was said last year when Branden Ore was kicked off the team. Evans came in as an unknown redshirt freshman, earned carries in the preseason and then in games showed he was capable of being the No. 1 back. Hopefully one of the three other backs will be able to do the same this year.

I'll have a lot more on Tech's running back situation as the week goes on.

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Damnit.

I came here when my bud texted me and you didn’t have your story up so I commented on a previous post. Anyways, time for Oglesby, Williams, Wilson, Lewis or whoever have you to step up.

by VT89 on Aug 11, 2009 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am bummed this happened to DE, especially before he was able to get a carry in the opener. But if we had to have someone go down at any position I would rather it be at running back where we are loaded. I’m looking forward to seeing if Wilson and Williams can answer the bell.

Alcohol is my anti-drug. CollegeGameBalls.com

by collegegameballs on Aug 11, 2009 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's horrible news...

Best of luck to the kid with his recovery.

Roll Bama Roll

by Todd on Aug 11, 2009 8:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ugggh

the tough inside runner beamer loves is gone and i am not sure any of the other 3 have it in them to do that and certainly not by game 1.

guess our oc will make adjustments and play to the group’s strengths …. right? right? oh, damn.

by BeerControl on Aug 11, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hate that for the kid

and you guys. Best of luck to him, hope he makes a full recovery.

We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person. ~W. Somerset Maugham

by BamaReturns07 on Aug 11, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bummer for sure

But why in the world was he in full contact drills on a sprained knee? Sounds like (and apparently was) a mistake.

Best of luck with the recovery though. Not going to be fun for him.

by PiChick on Aug 12, 2009 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Looks like the sprain was the tear

And they didn’t know until he tried to go on it full speed on Tuesday. It’s a really weird deal.

A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. GobblerCountry.com

by furrer4heisman on Aug 12, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is our medical staff from the stone age?

Alcohol is my anti-drug. CollegeGameBalls.com

by collegegameballs on Aug 12, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m beginning to wonder what the hell happened. If he tore it Friday, there’s nothing we could have done. You can’t untear an ACL. But seriously, why didn’t they do a fucking MRI on Friday?

A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. GobblerCountry.com

by furrer4heisman on Aug 12, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly. It’s like we are a top D1 football program with a butt-load of money. Why not be extremely proactive?

Alcohol is my anti-drug. CollegeGameBalls.com

by collegegameballs on Aug 12, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I was wondering.

I wouldn’t be surprised if someone down the ranks’ head doesn’t roll on this. Either Evans was trying to be too tough for his own good (as you would expect most competitive athletes of that caliber to be with the season so close at hand) or a coach/staff member wasn’t paying enough attention to how bad the “sprain” could’ve been. Or some combination of the two.

by PiChick on Aug 12, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs