Virginia Tech’s Leading Rusher Marshawn Williams Out Against Pitt

Virginia Tech running back Marshawn Williams, the Hokies’ leading rusher, won’t play Thursday night at Pittsburgh because of a sprained ankle.

It’s been a rough few weeks for the Virginia Tech backfield.

The school confirmed that leading rusher Marshawn Williams won’t play Thursday night against Pittsburgh because of a sprained ankle he sustained on Oct. 4 against North Carolina.

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Williams, a freshman, had been picking up the slack in the ground game after two of its other top running backs—Shai McKenzie and Trey Edmunds—went down with injuries.

In its last two games, Virginia Tech has lost all three players.

McKenzie has a torn ACL and is out for the year and Edmunds broke his collarbone.

Williams has 337 yards on 85 carries and has started five of the Hokies’ six games this season. He is tied with McKenzie for the team lead with three touchdowns on the ground.

McKenzie had 269 yards on 53 carries before he was hurt against Western Michigan on Sept. 27. Edmunds had rushed for 86 yards on 17 carries. He was also injured against North Carolina.

That leaves sophomore Joel Caleb and junior J.C. Coleman as the next men up for Virginia Tech.

Caleb has 84 yards on 15 carries and Coleman has rushed for 61 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns.

The Hokies are averaging 174 yards a game on the ground and have nine rushing scores.

Virginia Tech has won its last two games to get to 4-2 and is 1-1 in the ACC. Pitt is 3-3 and has lost its last three games and is 1-1 in conference play.