Justin Cook | The Roanoke Times

Ryan Williams has gained 1,109 rushing yards in 2009.

BLACKSBURG -- The sight of Darren Evans back in uniform doing light workouts at Virginia Tech's Monday practice begged the obvious question: What it's going to be like next season when the Hokies have him and Ryan Williams in their tailback arsenal?

Virginia Tech running backs coach Billy Hite laughed at the question.

"I can't worry about that right now," Hite said. "That's what spring practice is for. Obviously, we'll have a plan for that. We'll see what goes on. I think it's a great problem to have."

No kidding.

Evans, who is still rehabbing from a torn ACL in mid-August that cost him this season, ran for a school freshman-record 1,265 yards last year. Williams, a redshirt freshman, replaced him and has rambled for 1,109 yards, with still four games left to play.

Williams said Tuesday he was stoked to see Evans back on the field.

"To be honest, I can't wait for it," Williams said. "With Darren being back, I know we're going to split carries. That doesn't bother me. I've been doing this my whole life, splitting carries with guys. It doesn't bother me at the all. You get fresher legs and you don't get pounded on so much, so that will be the plus about him coming back."

Williams said his close friend loves the game as much as he does.

"I was excited to see him out there," Williams said. "[Evans] put his helmet on, and he was like, 'I miss you, man, I miss you. I haven't spent that much time with you this year, you know, talking to his pads.' So, it was cool, man."

Especially, if you're Hite. The keeper of Tech's running backs the past 32 years figures to enter spring drills with a 1-2 punch that has run for somewhere near 1.5 miles the past two years. Only two other teams in NCAA FBS history -- Nevada (2001-02) and TCU (2002-03) -- have produced back-to-back 1,000-yard freshman backs.

"They're the ones who decides who plays," Hite said. "Right now, none of them had better miss a beat and better be doing everything right all the time, on and off the field. And they'd better be competing everyday when they're out there."

"I really believe that's why we're so good right now. I think Darren Evans made Ryan Williams a better player. I think Ryan Williams is making Josh Oglesby and David Wilson a better player."

Biding his time

Wilson, a freshman who had a dazzling preseason, remains No. 3 in the tailback line, behind Williams and Oglesby. The former GW-Danville High star has carried the ball 33 times for 208 yards.

All but eight of those carries and nine of the yards came in blowout wins over Marshall and Boston College.

"It hurts not to be able to get out there," Wilson said.

"In the beginning, I thought it was going to be a rotation thing. But you can't control what other people do. All you can control is what you do.

"If I gave up and just looked at it like 'dang,' then I lose all the way around. So I'm just going to keep working hard and something good will come out of it."

Alternative career?

Linebacker Cody Grimm and quarterback Tyrod Taylor were the models for Monday's unveiling of Tech's new Nike uniforms, which the Hokies will wear in Saturday's game at Maryland.

When asked if his runway moves could launch a career for him in the fashion industry, Grimm said: "Yeah. I've been getting calls from Jockey, Hanes, stuff like that. I guess they want me to be an underwear model, but I'm going to have to wait until after the season to get to that, though."

Tech tidbits

Tech is listed as a 17-point favorite over Maryland, which is the only one of the ACC's 12 teams that has no postseason hopes left ... Hokies cornerback Rock Carmichael's five interceptions in nine games is tied for sixth in the country. ... Game time and television coverage plans for Tech's Nov. 21 home finale against North Carolina State won't be announced until Sunday.