BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer was smiling frequently and feeling really good about his football team as it began preseason drills Aug. 6.

Three weeks later, the Hokies' head honcho now looks and sounds like a concerned man.

"Do you feel as good about this team as you did three weeks ago?" a reporter asked Beamer on Wednesday.

"No," Beamer responded. "Three weeks ago we had Darren Evans."

Since Evans suffered a season-ending knee injury Aug. 11, the Hokies have seen each of their next three tailbacks miss time with injuries. Two of the three -- redshirt sophomore Josh Oglesby and freshman David Wilson -- each missed more than a week of practice before returning to workouts Tuesday.

Wilson ran 10 times for 52 yards and Oglesby carried nine times for 44 yards in Tech's final scrimmage Wednesday. Ryan Williams, who got most of the work while Oglesby and Wilson convalesced, saw scant time, carrying twice for 3 yards.

Beamer said the trio will have to go fast the next nine days, as Tech readies to face Alabama in the Sept. 5 season opener in Atlanta.

"You've got two [Wilson and Oglesby] there that you're counting on, one never has been in a game and one has been in very little, and they've missed a lot of work," Beamer said. "Running backs is kinda the one thing right now that's up in the air a little bit. Guys got hurt at the wrong time. But that's the way it is. We've just got to be good in this last week and a half."

Running backs coach Billy Hite said he got what he wanted out of his bunch in the scrimmage, which pitted the first-team offense against the second- and third-team defenses.

"Each got some carries, did some blocking," Hite said. "Two disappointing things were both Josh and David missed a blitz pickup. They had the right guy and just didn't get them down. There's no excuse for that.

"Yes, that's a sack, and [the Tide] will try to break the quarterback's pads while they're doing it on top of it."

Wilson's day included a 20-yard run in which he lost a fumble.

"It's the first time for Wilson," Hite said. "I told him you're allowed one for the year, and you got yours over with today."

Hite said if the opener were today that Williams would be the No. 1 guy.

"I am going to use all three," Hite said. "I still haven't figured out how I'm going to do it or who's going to start yet, but I guarantee you will end up seeing all three of them in there at some point. Right now, it's just getting their timing and reads right on certain plays."

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor had an impressive day throwing the ball, completing 15 of 24 passes for 218 yards. Danny Coale had four catches for 72 yards, including a 20-yarder for a touchdown in a two-minute drill. Tight end Andre Smith had three receptions for 54 yards.

Tech's first-team defense put on a suffocating performance, allowing only two first downs to the second- and third-team offenses. Free safety Kam Chancellor enjoyed a big day, delivering a couple of vicious hits on his four tackles with a pass breakup. Linebacker Barquell Rivers had four tackles, including one for a loss.

In addition to Wilson, Beamer said the plan is for another freshman, Jayron Hosley, to play this season as a fifth cornerback and on special teams. Beamer said freshman wideout D.J. Coles will "probably" play this season, too.