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The injuries are mounting fast for Virginia Tech.
Hokies trainer Mike Goforth announced Thursday night that outside linebacker Ronny Vandyke and running back Tony Gregory both require surgery and will be lost for the season, and starting offensive lineman Mark Shuman will miss 4-6 weeks after surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee.
Shuman has had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee before, Goforth said. The surgery will likely happen early next week.
Vandyke was being counted on to be an impact player in Blacksburg, Va., in what shapes up as a solid defense. Instead, he will have right shoulder surgery that sidelines him for 6-8 months, Goforth said. The trainer said he hopes Vandyke will be ready for spring practice.
The oft-injured Gregory, counted on to be the Hokies' third tailback, re-tore the ACL in his right knee this week.
''His career at Virginia Tech is effectively over,'' Goforth said.
That news is especially hard on the Hokies because possible starting tailback J.C. Coleman suffered a high left ankle sprain and a right ankle sprain during a drill this week and is likely to miss about two weeks, making his availability for the season-opener with two-time national champion Alabama questionable.
''We're hoping to get him back in less than two weeks, but that's very optimistic,'' Goforth said.
Redshirt freshman Trey Edmunds has been competing with Coleman for the starting job, but the Hokies are otherwise thin at tailback because Michael Holmes was dismissed from the team in the offseason, and converted wide receiver Joel Caleb has been suspended for the opener for a violation of team rules.
The Hokies plan to scrimmage on Saturday.
