BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -When Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor turns to hand the ball off this season, his options might make up the best backfield in the country.
Ryan Williams and Darren Evans will finally play together in 2010.
Williams, a redshirt sophomore, ran for 1,655 yards last season and broke the Atlantic Coast Conference record for yards by a freshman running back. He got the chance only because Evans, who set the mark with 1,265 the previous year, tore his ACL early in preseason camp.
The possibilities are endless – pairing the speed and elusiveness of Williams with Evans’ preference to barrel over tacklers.
“That’s like my big brother,” Williams said of Evans, a redshirt junior.
through, I was there for him always, talking to him. We just built a bond over the year.
“And now it’s finally come together. We’re going to be able to play together and I think the bond that we’ve built is going to make what we have on the field a lot better.”
Evans, who got married last winter, returned to the field in the spring with a renewed sense of purpose. He knows he has NFL-caliber talent, and is eager to show he’s still the bruiser who averaged 4.4 yards per carry in 2008-09.
To that end, Evans said he’s learned from Williams, who had six more carries last season than Evans had the year before, but averaged 5.6 yards per try.
Williams also scored 22 touchdowns – 21 rushing – to set another ACC record.
“You can’t do anything but try to imitate him and learn from him because he gets out of jams, and when you get the ball, that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Evans said.
The presence of both runners, along with the dual-threat Taylor and an experienced group of receivers, gives the Hokies an explosiveness on offense they’ve not had in years.
Even better, coach Frank Beamer said, they put their individual glory second to the Hokies’ overall success.
“A lot of times when you get those tailbacks and they’ve had a lot written about them in high school and so forth, they’re not as much teams guys as you would want,” he said. “I think these guys are team guys.”
he offense is also getting credit for accelerating the growth of a young defense, which has to replace seven starters in a season filled with high expectations.
“For us to be able to work against those kind of guys is going to prepare ’em because you’re talking about running backs and a quarterback that are as good as anybody in America, and with our receiving corps, as well,” defensive coordinator Bud Foster said. “To work against those guys every day is only going to prepare you for good things down the road.”
Opposing defenses, meanwhile, will get a big dose of both backs from the Hokies.
“We’re going to do what’s best for the Virginia Tech program, and right now that’s playing both of them,” Hokies running backs coach Billy Hite said. “We’re working on a few packages here where you’ll see both of them in the ballgame at the same time.”
Virginia Tech hopes to redshirt speedster David Wilson, another highly touted tailback who played mostly on return units and in mop-up duty last season as a freshman.
As far as sharing carries, Williams and Evans think less may actually be more.
“I’m pretty sure – and I could probably answer this for him too – but we probably won’t want to come out of the game regardless of the situation,” Williams said.
“But you know it makes us feel a lot better knowing that if we’re tired or if we need a break, I know if I come out of the game, he’s going to handle business and vice versa.”
It might even lead to a friendly competition that leaves defenses hurting.
“I think it will be easier to get into a rhythm if we’re both fresh and we’re feeding off of what each other’s doing,” Evans said. “If he breaks a long run and gets tired, I’m going to be so hyped after that that I’m going to be wanting to do it, too.”
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