MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

David Wilson led Virginia Tech tailbacks with 132 yards rushing in three scrimmages.

Longtime Virginia Tech running backs coach Billy Hite always has said that his players -- not he -- ultimately make the call on who plays in his backfield.

David Wilson not only has called, he's raised the pot, too.

In a decision that basically says he and his staff have decided to go ''all-in'' in a season in which Tech has a legitimate chance at making a run for the national title, Tech coach Frank Beamer announced Monday that the plan is to play the speedy sophomore tailback this fall.

"Certainly, I think you need to get your best players on the field, and he's one of them,'' Beamer said, speaking via a teleconference discussing the 10th-ranked Hokies season opener against No. 3 Boise State next Monday night in Landover, Md.

''Coach Hite met with David on Sunday and talked to all [the tailbacks]. David has really been exceptional here in preseason and I think he brings another element back there. I think he can help this football team be successful. And he wants to do it.''

In the end, Wilson made it virtually impossible for Beamer & Co. to arrive at any other decision. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Danville native had a team-high 132 yards rushing in 23 carries in the team's three preseason scrimmages, plus returned kickoffs for 40 and 43 yards.

Wilson, who possesses sprinter's speed and power to run through tacklers, will add more fuel to a backfield that already is loaded with proven prime-time performers, Ryan Williams and Darren Evans. Williams, a redshirt sophomore, ran for a school-record 1,655 yards and tied an NCAA record with 21 touchdowns last season. Evans, a redshirt junior, rushed for 1,265 yards, including a school-record 253 yards vs. Maryland, and 11 TDs in 2008 before missing last season with a torn left ACL.

Wilson, 19, played last season as a freshman. He played in all 13 games in a backup role, running for 334 yards and four touchdowns on 59 carries. He was the team's second-leading kickoff returner, averaging 19.1 yards on 17 returns.

Certainly, Wilson has the kind of weapons to keep defensive coordinators up at night. He ran a 4.29-second 40 in the team's offseason testing this past winter, and has an acceleration burst to the edge that can make defenses pay a huge price on any given play.

Following the team's final scrimmage Saturday, senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor said he couldn't imagine Wilson not playing this fall.

''[Wilson] is a great player,'' Taylor said. "I love playing with him. Fast guy, can break a play at any time, and he's not going down easily."

In another personnel move, Beamer said starting senior rover Davon Morgan will get some reps at whip linebacker when the team begins game-week preparations Wednesday for Boise State. The move was precipitated by the Hokies' severe lack of depth at whip, where backups Alonzo Tweedy and Zach Luckett have been slowed by injuries.

"Davon has been around, he understands the defense, so I think that will be OK,'' said Beamer, noting that new whip starter Jeron Gouveia-Winslow performed solidly in camp.

Should Morgan need to spell Gouveia-Winslow at whip, Beamer said the plan now is for redshirt freshman Antone Exum to handle the rover spot.

"This is the route that we think is best right now,'' Beamer said. "We're going to work it and see if we feel that way after this week. I think Exum has got a lot of ability, a guy who runs really well, brings a punch when he tackles.''

The team's 70-player travel roster for the opener includes six freshmen. The group includes two players who are expected to play -- defensive tackle Derrick Hopkins and cornerback Kyle Fuller. Hopkins will be in the defensive line rotation, while Fuller will be on Tech's kickoff-coverage team and possibly on the punt-return squad, Beamer said.

Another first-year player, linebacker Chase Williams, will make the trip. Williams, the son of Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, was slowed by a hamstring injury throughout camp.

''Chase has been battling a hamstring and he moved much better in the spring,'' Beamer said. "So we want to get him well. We want to go here a while longer and make sure he's going to play a lot if we're going to use a year of eligibility.''