Hokies face lineup losses

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer spoke in solemn tones yesterday as he revealed that the Hokies could face significant attrition heading into the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1 against Cincinnati.

They will be without starting left guard Nick Marshman, who is academically ineligible. Two injured defensive starters are questionable: fifth-year senior linebacker Brett Warren (left knee) and sophomore defensive end Jason Worilds (left shoulder). Neither has practiced since the ACC championship game on Dec. 6.

To replace Marshman, a fifth-year senior in his second season as a starter, Tech's coaches will move junior right guard Sergio Render to left guard. They will start Render's backup, redshirt freshman Jaymes Brooks, at right guard. Brooks has played just four snaps this season -- one on Oct. 18 at Boston College, three on Sept. 6 against Furman.

Warren has a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He originally got hurt Nov. 13 at Miami but played in the final two regular-season games and the ACC championship. It's a clean tear with no other damage to the knee, so Warren, his family and Tech's medical staff will decide if he can play in the Orange Bowl, defensive coordinator Bud Foster said. If Warren can't play, Tech would start just four seniors, including just one on offense.

Warren's replacement would be redshirt freshman Barquell Rivers, who has eight tackles this season while playing mainly on kickoff coverage. Beamer said he has played about 30 snaps on defense.

Worilds has battled a shoulder injury all season. His shoulder has popped out in the past four games, defensive line coach Charley Wiles said. Worilds is scheduled to undergo surgery Jan. 6. His replacement, junior Nekos Brown, has 20 tackles and two sacks this season.

The loss of Marshman came as a bigger surprise than the potential absence of Warren and Worilds.

Marshman already has graduated, but he needed to pass six hours this semester to be eligible for the bowl. Marshman had never experienced academic problems before, offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said, so Stinespring was stunned when he received the news Friday that Marshman hadn't passed his six hours.

After meeting with Render and Brooks, Stinespring decided to move Render to left guard because, as a third-year starter, he is more experienced than Brooks, whom the coaches wanted to keep at a position where he already is comfortable, albeit green. Brooks' most significant action before the Orange Bowl will be today's scrimmage in practice.

"I'm sure that Jaymes is going to have a little bit of jitters out there [in the Orange Bowl]," Stinespring said.

Tech's line was spotty this season, allowing 39 sacks, the most in the ACC. But the Hokies did rank third in the conference in rushing yards per game (167.9). Over their past three games, they have averaged 184.3 rushing yards. In the ACC championship, the line helped tailback Darren Evans run for 114 yards -- the most an opposing player ran for against the Eagles all season.

To help the linemen adjust to their new lineup, Stinespring, a former line coach who now coaches tight ends, will spend more time in practice working with the tackles. This will allow line coach Curt Newsome to work specifically with the interior three linemen, who are most affected by the position switches.

Stinespring is concerned about communication among his linemen during the game, especially because Brooks will be playing next to another redshirt freshman, right tackle Blake DeChristopher (Clover Hill High). Junior left tackle Ed Wang said he isn't concerned about communication issues with Render because they played next to each other last season, when Wang was the right tackle.

If Brooks struggles, Tech could opt for an alternative plan. During Friday's practice, senior center Ryan Shuman, who started at left guard in 2006, worked exclusively at right guard. Sophomore Beau Warren handled all the snaps at center.

NOTES: Reserve tailback Jahre Cheeseman has decided to leave the team and will not play in the Orange Bowl, Beamer said. Cheeseman, a fourth-year junior, plans to graduate in the spring. Beamer said he believes Cheeseman will not try to play at another school. Cheeseman contended for the starting tailback job in the spring. He was moved to fullback earlier this season, then back to tailback. He had just four carries for 21 yards this season and finishes his career with 25 carries for 154 yards and a touchdown.

Senior defensive end Orion Martin was excused from yesterday's practice because he got married to Jennifer Edwards, his girlfriend of about eight months. Martin, 23, proposed after the Sept. 13 game against Georgia Tech. Also excused to attend the wedding was Martin's younger brother, Cam, a junior whip linebacker.