Virginia Tech wide receiver Brandon Dillard and the Hokies receiving corp were dealt a major blow Tuesday, when the redshirt junior ruptured his Achilles tendon during a game of toss.

Official practice is still a month off, and Dillard was involved in a voluntary, unsupervised workout, honing his routes and timing with Tech's quarterbacks. 

Dillard will need surgery next week and will miss four to six months.

"This season is gone for him," trainer Mike Goforth said. "He was just throwing and catching –and it blew. It's crazy. I sat in my office just yesterday morning talking to an engineering student who's doing a project on the Achilles. And I said, 'You know, I never really deal with those much.' Then this happens.

"It's very much a freak thing."

Dillard, a walk-on from Bassett High School, was on the verge of earning a scholarship – and might still – after a dazzling spring practice. With Tech's top four receivers all graduating, Dillard emerged as the Hokies' biggest threat for 2008.

He ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.28 seconds during winter testing, then capped spring practice with a 49-yard reverse and 25-yard touchdown in the spring game.

"He's devastated," Goforth said. "And everybody here is very sad. Here's a guy who has worked so hard to get his chance. No matter how hard he works now, this is an injury that takes a long time to heal."

Now the Hokies' top returning wide receivers are both former quarterbacks: Cory Holt and Ike Whitaker. Redshirt freshman Danny Coale looked steady in the spring and will likely also be an option, but this fall could look much like the 2004 season, when Tech was forced to play four true freshmen receivers. Tech also used star cornerback Victory "Macho" Harris at wide receiver in the spring and will likely have to play him there some this fall.

The quartet thrived, helping the Hokies win an ACC title that year. But all four of them recently signed NFL contracts, which created this depth problem.

So when camp starts in August, the Hokies will be looking at a new crew of talented freshmen. Smithfield's Dyrell Roberts and Ocean Lakes' Randall Dunn, along with Jarrett Boykin from North Carolina, seem to be the top candidates for immediate playing time. All were top recruits.