The biggest question mark for Virginia Tech’s football team this fall has become even more difficult to answer 12 days before the Hokies’ season opener against East Carolina in Charlotte, N.C.

Redshirt sophomore Zach Luckett, who had been projected to be the Hokies’ starting flanker this season, has been suspended indefinitely by head coach Frank Beamer. A news release from Beamer said Luckett, a 6-foot-3, 217-pound redshirt sophomore from Mays Landing, N.J., was suspended for a violation of team policy.

Luckett was arrested on a DUI charge early Sunday morning by Blacksburg police in the 200 block of Draper Road .

A little after 1 a.m, Luckett backed his Mercury Mountaineer into a green dumpster in a store parking lot and pulled away without checking for damage, at which point he was pulled over, a police spokesman said.

Luckett was asked to perform field sobriety tests and taken back to the police station, where a breath analysis revealed a blood-alcohol level of 0.16, twice the legal limit.

Luckett was charged with driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license, which was a result of a previous DUI.

Luckett had also been previously charged in Blacksburg with leaving the scene of an accident, which was later dismissed. He was charged and fined for public urination on Aug. 19, 2006, in Blacksburg.

Because this is Luckett’s second DUI charge in less than five years, a police spokesman said, he faces a mandatory $500 fine and one-month jail sentence if convicted. He could spend as much as a year in jail, but would serve no less than 20 days if convicted.

Luckett was one of only two wideouts in Tech’s ongoing preseason camp who had a caught a pass in his college career. He had two receptions for 18 yards last season, plus caught a two-point conversion pass in the Hokies’ 40-21 romp over Florida State on Nov. 11 in Blacksburg.

Luckett caught one pass for 14 yards in Tech’s second preseason scrimmage Saturday in Lane Stadium.

The loss of Luckett means the Hokies will likely have to start a true freshman at flanker . Dyrell Roberts, who has impressed wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman in preseason, was listed No. 2 on the depth chart Sunday on Beamer’s Web site.

Roberts had three catches for 13 yards and returned a kickoff 55 yards in Saturday’s scrimmage.

Another incoming recruit, Xavier Boyce, also could contend for Luckett’s starting spot. The 6-3 Boyce was listed third behind Luckett and Roberts on the latest depth chart.

Luckett played in all 14 games last season, mostly on special teams. He led the team with 14 special-teams tackles, including 10 on kickoff coverage.
Bassett’s Brandon Dillard, who had been expected to man Tech’s starting flanker spot this season, was lost for the season when he ruptured his Achilles tendon June 3 during player-organized passing drills on the practice field.

Dillard, a junior, is on crutches in a rehabilitation period that’s expected to last from four to six months.

Redshirt freshman Danny Coale, who suffered a rare dropped pass in Saturday’s scrimmage, remains atop the depth chart at split end. Junior Ike Whitaker, a converted quarterback, is listed behind Coale.

Whitaker, whose three career receptions leads Sherman’s inexperienced group, was impressive in Saturday’s scrimmage, catching four passes for 39 yards.

Luckett’s loss also enhances the chances that Tech could play a third freshman wideout. Jarrett Boykin is listed No. 3 behind Coale and Whitaker at split end.

Kyle Tucker of The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot contributed to this story.