The Roanoke Times | File November

Virginia Tech starting tailback Darren Evans suffered a torn ACL to his left knee during a passing drill Tuesday at practice.

Justin Cook | The Roanoke Times

Redshirt sophomore Darren Evans rushed for a freshman school-record 1,265 yards last season at Virginia Tech. He also had a record 253 yards in a game against Maryland.

At last Saturday's Virginia Tech football media day, Darren Evans excitedly talked about how he was the "power" guy among the Hokies' multi-talented array of young tailbacks.

Well, the power is gone now.

In a severe blow to a loaded Tech club that entertains hopes of challenging for a possible national championship, Evans is done for the upcoming season after suffering a torn left ACL Tuesday afternoon in practice.

Evans, a redshirt sophomore, who ran for a freshman school-record 1,265 yards last season and was the MVP in Tech's 20-7 win over Cincinnati in the Jan. 1 Orange Bowl, went down after making a routine cut in a no-contact pass drill pitting the tailbacks against the linebackers.

"All Darren did was shuffle out of his stance and got to his landmark, and went to cut inside and just fell to the ground," running backs coach Billy Hite said Tuesday night. "I mean, he ran 5 yards and bang! It just went!

"It's sickening. I just feel so bad for him. He's so upset that he can't even talk. He's really down. All we talked about was he was going to bounce back from it, that this is a minor setback and you're going to have surgery and be back out there next fall."

The 6-foot, 218-pound Indianapolis, Ind., native had missed two days of workouts after he had suffered what was diagnosed with a sprain of the same knee Friday, when he went down after stepping on the foot of freshman lineman James Gayle while attempting to make a cut.

Hite said Saturday that he had originally feared that Evans had torn his ACL in that mishap.

"That's what I thought ... and, obviously, I'm sure he's so strong that I'm sure that's why his knee wasn't loose at all when they examined him then," Hite said. "His strength was masking the ACL. I'm sure he did it the other day [Friday]."

Hite, however, said Evans had looked good running wind sprints following Monday's workout, a session in which he participated in no contact work.

After being carried off the field Tuesday, Evans was immediately transported to Montgomery Regional Hospital, where he underwent an MRI that confirmed the torn ligament.

Hokies head athletic trainer Mike Goforth said in a release from the school's sports information department that Evans will be re-evaluated later this week to determine when the ACL reconstruction surgery will be scheduled.

"Our hope is to be able to repair the knee prior to [the start of fall semester classes], so that he can get started on his rehab and his course record," Goforth said. "Obviously, we are all saddened by the results of the MRI, but we all know what type of young man Darren is, and we have no doubt that he will come back stronger than ever."

Football is a fickle game. Only 16 days ago at the ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro, N.C., Tech head coach Frank Beamer jokingly responded to a question about his loaded tailback rotation.

"I told Billy ... don't screw them up in practice and make sure they get to the bus!" Beamer replied.

Hite said redshirt sophomore Josh Oglesby, who has been impressive in early workouts, will move up from No. 2 and assume Evans' lead spot on the depth chart. Redshirt freshman Ryan Williams will be No. 2, with talented freshman David Wilson of Danville moving up to No. 3.

"Now these other guys have got to kick it up a notch and just get ready to go," Hite said. "Ryan and David Wilson both did very well in [Tuesday's] scrimmage. So, you know, we've got three good ones and we'll go from there. I told you the other day that you can never have enough running backs, and this is proof."