BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech's wide receiver situation just got bleaker. Having already lost their top four receivers from last season, the Hokies this season will be without likely starter Brandon Dillard, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon Tuesday evening while participating in voluntary passing drills.

Dillard, a junior walk-on who likely would have earned a scholarship this season, emerged from spring practices as the top candidate to take over one of the receiver spots. He will undergo surgery next week and will be out four to six months. Dillard already has redshirted but could apply for a medical-hardship waiver to get another redshirt year.

Tech trainer Mike Goforth said Dillard felt a pop while running downfield after catching a pass on a routine curl route. It is extremely uncommon for a player to rupture his Achilles in a situation like that, Goforth said.

"To put it in perspective, I've never had it happen with any of our athletes," Goforth said. "I wouldn't put it to the 'freak' level, but not far from it."

Dillard could have added significant speed to Tech's receiving corps. He ran a hand-timed 4.28 seconds this spring in the 40-yard dash -- the eighth-fastest time in program history. In the spring game, he had a 49-yard run on a reverse and a 25-yard touchdown catch.

"I'm just going to try and turn this negative into a positive," Dillard said in a press release. "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."

Dillard figured to play a major role this season, because Tech lost seniors Eddie Royal, Justin Harper, Josh Morgan and Josh Hyman from last year's team. Dillard never caught a pass in a regular-season game but showed promise during the spring.

Tech's only receivers with game experience are junior Ike Whitaker, who converted from quarterback last season and has three career catches, and sophomore Zach Luckett, who has two career catches.

Three redshirt freshmen were listed behind Dillard at the flanker position: walk-on Ervin Garner, Patrick Terry and Jacob Sykes. Tech's other receivers are senior Cory Holt, a converted quarterback; sophomore Prince Parker; redshirt freshman Danny Coale; and true freshmen Jarrett Boykin, Dyrell Roberts and Randall Dunn.

The Hokies also likely will use senior cornerback Victor Harris, a Highland Springs High graduate, at receiver. Harris, one of Tech's best players, played there in the spring and also figures to be one of Tech's return men.

Playing young receivers isn't new for the Hokies. In 2004, they played three true freshmen (Royal, Harper and Morgan) and a redshirt freshman (Hyman). They helped the Hokies win ACC titles that season and last season.

Tech, coming off an 11-3 season and a loss to Kansas in the Orange Bowl, begins practice Aug. 4.

NOTE: Goforth said junior running back Jahre Cheeseman (broken left leg) will be medically cleared just before practice starts and junior running back Kenny Lewis Jr. (torn labrum in left shoulder) should be cleared a week or two thereafter. They are leading contenders to replace Branden Ore as Tech's starter.