BLACKSBURG -- Can Billy Hite still tote the football? If this stuff keeps up, Virginia Tech's 56-year-old running backs coach may have to line up in the backfield in next Saturday's Maroon-White spring game.

"I think I'm going to have to suit up," Hite cracked Saturday.

A day after learning that No. 1 tailback Kenny Lewis Jr. will undergo left shoulder surgery Tuesday and could be out from four to six months, Hite saw Jahre Cheeseman go down with a broken left fibula in Saturday's final full-scale spring scrimmage.

Cheeseman, a promising redshirt junior, was scheduled to undergo surgery Saturday night. In the best-case scenario, Cheeseman could be back to full strength and return in time to participate in the team's August preseason camp.

"I've been doing this a long time and I've never had this many go down," Hite said.

"Shoot, [fullback] Kenny Jefferson ending up pulling a calf muscle [Friday]. I just hope we can get through the next week without losing anybody else."

With Lewis and Cheeseman sidelined, the Hokies are down to three healthy tailbacks -- redshirt freshmen Josh Oglesby and Darren Evans, and senior Dustin Pickle (Salem).

"It's unbelievable," Oglesby said. "We went from having a bunch of tailbacks to having three. It's crazy how the tables can turn, but I think it's just showing us young guys that we've got to step up and that we've got to grow up real fast.

"I hate to see it happen, but we're going to be all right. We were recruited here to come run the ball and I'm confident that all of us have proven we can run the ball. Our running game is going to be fine. It's nothing to worry about."

Oglesby and Evans, not to mention the overachieving Pickle, all have had their moments this spring. Evans said the three guys left in the stable must turn it up even more now in the wake of the loss of Lewis and Cheeseman.

"It narrows things down for me, Josh and 'Pick,' but it's not good for the team," said Evans, who ran 14 times for 26 yards Saturday.

"It definitely is open for us now. With our two leaders down, we're going to have to get better and even learn more. It's wild, but we all can do it."

Hite is banking on the two youngsters even more now. And don't count out Pickle, a former walk-on whose relentless work ethic may be unmatched by any other player on the roster.

"I like where both of the freshmen are right now," said Hite of Oglesby and Evans.

"I think both of them are going to be really good players. And Pickle is Pickle now. I couldn't practice without that guy. Everything he does is full speed.

"Now, we've got to finish the spring off strong. Now we've just got to get healthy and get ready to have a hell of a year."

Tech tidbits

The Hokies' new big threat in the backfield? How about 278-pound Greg Boone.

In a new wrinkle added this spring, Boone lined up at fullback and took a delayed draw and rambled downfield like a runaway bull for a 16-yard gain.

"We're putting different personnel at different positions," Hite said. "The fullbacks are interchangeable with the tight ends. I think it makes it tough on a defense. Boone is a load to tackle, I know that."

Noted a grinning Boone: "I'm pretty sure the whole defense will hate to see that coming,"

With Tyrod Taylor sidelined with a sprained left foot that likely will keep him out of the spring game, Sean Glennon did all the quarterback chores. Glennon was 13-for-24 passing for 122 yards. He was intercepted twice, but hooked up with Brandon Dillard for a 19-yard touchdown pass.

"We've got to get that cleaned up," said coach Frank Beamer, referring to the pair of picks.

Dillard, a redshirt junior from Bassett, had a scrimmage-high three receptions for 65 yards.