Kenny Lewis' hopes of being Virginia Tech's starting tailback when the season opens Aug. 30 have been dealt a severe blow.

Lewis, the lead candidate to replace Branden Ore as the Hokies' No. 1 tailback this fall, will undergo surgery Tuesday for a torn labrum in his left shoulder and is expected to be sidelined for four to six months.

Lewis, a 5-foot, 199-pound junior, had been experiencing pain and a loss of strength in the shoulder for some time, Tech head athletic trainer Mike Goforth said Friday night.

"It has bothered Kenny on and off, and he hurt it a little bit again during winter workouts," Goforth said.

The torn labrum was discovered during an MRI taken Thursday, running backs coach Billy Hite said.

"Kenny, honestly, couldn't use his left arm at all," Hite said.

"I could tell he was in pain but he kept fighting through it. He had [the injury] during last season, but he kept fighting it."

If Lewis can return in four months, that would have him back in the fold by mid-August.

If it's six months, it could be midseason before the Danville native returns.

"I feel so bad for Kenny that he's going to be down for a while," Hite said. "But there's no reason why he can't come back and be a big contributor for us."

So who's going to be Tech's top tailback? Good question, Hite says. Redshirt junior Jahre Cheeseman is now No. 1 on the depth chart, followed by redshirt freshmen Josh Oglesby and Darren Evans, plus senior Dustin Pickle (Salem).

"So far, it's been somebody different every day who's been shining," Hite said.

"So let's see who it's going to be in [today's] scrimmage."

Meanwhile, sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor will miss today's scrimmage with a left foot sprain.

Taylor, who is battling senior Sean Glennon for the starting QB job, is currently listed as doubtful to participate in next Saturday's Maroon-White spring game, Goforth said.