Virginia Tech Takes Unwanted Hit Losing Two Running Backs to Injury

Nov 17, 2012; Chestnut Hill, MA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back J.C. Coleman (4) carries the ball during the second quarter against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Without a doubt, the Virginia Tech Hokies have probably the toughest opening test of this college football season. Coming off one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory, Virginia Tech is tasked with going head-to-head with the reigning, defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide–not an easy task by any means.

Now one of the obvious keys for Virginia Tech having any sort of success in this matchup would entail them readily controlling the ball on offense. To aid in this, they would need a significant boost from a rushing attack that was all but absent last season. A good part of the reason the Hokies faltered at 6-6 last year was due to the fact that they simply could not run the ball near effectively enough. But with a good stable of capable, experienced backs–coupled with the debut of redshirt freshman Trey Edmunds–Virginia Tech was very optimistic about the fortunes of their running game changing for the positive in 2013.

On Thursday, however, those fortunes took a huge swing toward the negative side as it was announced that both J.C. Coleman and Tony Gregory had sustained injuries. Coleman–who was expected to start to open the season–sprained both of his ankles and Gregory suffered a torn ACL, thus ending his career as a Hokie.

As optimistic as people were in Blacksburg at one time about the running game improving, it’s been a dangerous mixture of doom and gloom ever since. Just hours after the spring game back in April another expected key contributor, Michael Holmes, was arrested and he has since been kicked off the team. And, earlier this month, Frank Beamer suspended Joel Caleb for a violation of team rules.

Given the process of elimination, this now pretty much leaves the freshman Edmunds to fend for himself against against that vaunted Crimson Tide defensive attack.

Edmunds was the talk of the offseason heading into last year as there were whispers that Beamer was flirting with the idea of giving him some playing time as a true freshman right out of the gate. But, for whatever reason, the long-time Hokies leader decided against the idea, which in hindsight may have been a bad choice depending on how you want to look at it.

Either way, we now know that we will definitively see Edmunds run the ball on Aug. 31 for Virginia Tech. At this point, he–nor Coach Beamer–really doesn’t have a choice in the matter.

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Jack is a College Football Columnist for Saturday Blitz. Follow Jack on Twitter @JackJ14CFB