Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech redshirt junior wide receiver Brandon Dillard will be out for the season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon Tuesday evening in player-organized passing drills. The Martinsville, Va., native is a walk-on who had worked his way up to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart at the flanker spot following a breakout spring session.
According to Tech head athletic trainer Mike Goforth, Dillard will have surgery next week at Montgomery Regional Hospital and then will have 4-6 months of rehabilitation. Dillard has already redshirted, but could apply for a medical redshirt waiver.
The speedster was hand-clocked at a 4.28 40 this past spring, the eighth fastest time in program history. He had a 49-yard run on a reverse in the Maroon-White Spring Game, along with a 25-yard touchdown catch.
"I'm just going to try and turn this negative into a positive," Dillard said. "I'll use this as an opportunity to teach the young guys and even though I won't be playing this year, I'll still be cheering on my teammates. I'm going to get this surgery done, start rehabbing and slowly start trying to work my way back."
Another walk-on, Ervin Garner, is currently listed as the No. 2 at flanker, but Patrick Terry and Jacob Sykes are also listed on the depth chart there, while others could be moved over from the split end spot. Tech also signed several receivers in February who are now on campus and enrolled in the second session of summer school.