Photos by MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Josh Oglesby, 25, Virginia Tech tailback

JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Tech's Josh Oglesby said he talked to the coaches after the Orange Bowl about the upcoming season.

Injured Darren Evans tries to keep the mood light while on the sideline during a Virginia Tech scrimmage.

BLACKSBURG -- Since arriving at Virginia Tech two years ago, Josh Oglesby has often envisioned what it would be like being the Hokies' No. 1 tailback.

Now, less than three weeks before Tech's season opener against Alabama, Oglesby suddenly finds himself filling the bill.

Oglesby must be euphoric, right? Not exactly. See, his gain has come from his best friend's pain.

"It just hit me by shock," said Oglesby, referring to a season-ending knee injury to starter Darren Evans that prompted his promotion last Tuesday.

"It really hurt me in my heart to have Darren go down. He's been my best friend since I got here, he's been my roommate on the road, and it's going to be different not having him around.

"It's a great shot, but I just hated to have it happen this way. Because our dream has been to have all of us playing and doing good. I hated to see one man left behind, but we're definitely going to do it for him."

Oglesby, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound redshirt sophomore, won't pull the load alone. He undoubtedly will get a lot of help from Ryan Williams and David Wilson, a pair of freshmen who have never played a snap in college.

"Before I was banking on Darren about coming in and getting at least 20 carries a game, so now that's an extra 20 carries to be distributed throughout the group," said Oglesby, who played in 12 games last season, getting 38 carries for 88 yards.

"So we've got to pick it up. We've got big plans this season, so we want to make [Evans] proud and make it look like we haven't lost a step."

While Williams is known for shifty feet that often leave defenders running in circles, and Wilson is all about sheer burst and speed, Oglesby is more of an inside power guy. Now the Garner, N.C., native must try to produce like Evans, a guy who very rarely lost real estate.

"I definitely pride myself on being able to do that," Oglesby said. "I think that's a part of my game that a lot of people haven't seen, just trying to get the extra yards and not falling backwards."

Oglesby made sure his offseason preparations would have him ready for fall camp. While he was slowed by a sore right hamstring that limited him to just two carries for 8 yards in last Saturday's scrimmage, Oglesby appears to be more adept at hitting the hole and making cuts at full speed, something he didn't consistently get done last fall.

"I know I'm a hard worker, so I just had to come in and prepare myself to get a step ahead of the competition, get in better shape, and just be in my playbook a little more," Oglesby said. "Because it's the mental things, and a lot of the young guys are lacking, and that's how you can get a step ahead."

Oglesby said he's determined to show Tech's fans the full package this fall. He knows to some he's the forgotten man in a Tech tailback group that is loaded with prep All-Americans such as Evans, Williams and Wilson.

"Maybe to some people outside of Virginia Tech, that may be the case," Oglesby noted. "I wasn't that highly recruited, so I'm used to it. I'm here to play. I'm going to get my time this season."

With Evans coming off of a 1,265-yard rushing season, Williams waiting in the wings, and Wilson on the way, Oglesby said he heard lots of talk about him transferring during the offseason. He said he met with Tech coach Frank Beamer and running backs coach Billy Hite soon after Tech's Jan. 1 Orange Bowl victory.

"I've stuck in there," Oglesby said. "I was kind of feeling down, but talking to Coach Beamer and Coach Hite really made me realize why I came here. It's a great group of coaches. I feel like I would have been cheating myself if I had left and played with someone else, when I've got these guys right here and they're definitely on my side.

"So I'm just ready to get in here and do something for these guys and show them why they recruited me."