By Adam Kilgore
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 3, 2007

BLACKSBURG, Va., Oct. 2 -- The broken left ankle Virginia Tech right tackle Ed Wang suffered in the fourth practice of the preseason has been felt throughout the Hokies' five games this season. Wang's injury forced Virginia Tech's offensive line to reshuffle in three weeks, and the results have been miserable. The Hokies have the worst offense in the ACC, one ranked No. 112 nationally, between Syracuse and Rice.

When Wang was injured, team trainers expected him to miss 10 to 12 weeks. Now, though, Wang may return as soon as Saturday against Clemson. If Wang plays against the No. 22 Tigers, he said, it would be for a series or two.

"I'm hoping to play Saturday," Wang said. "I'm rusty right now, but hopefully I'll get back into it. I think I'm a little off it right now. I'm not the same I was seven weeks ago. But I'm working on it."

Wang donned a white practice jersey for the first time Tuesday night, meaning he was cleared for full contact. He practiced mainly with the Hokies' second team. That was after he jogged around Monday in a blue shirt, signifying he was off-limits for hitting.

"There's no pain," Wang said after practice. "Now I just have to get back in playing shape."

Because he has been hobbling around on crutches for several weeks, Wang needs to strengthen his legs. He has been focusing on legwork in the weight room to accelerate his comeback. Virginia Tech wants to make sure he is at full strength before coming back, though, especially against Clemson's quicksilver front.

"I don't want him to rush back," left tackle Duane Brown said. "It's great he has that determination, but being 100 percent is the biggest thing. If you're coming 75, 80 percent against a great defense, it won't look too good."

The Hokies view Wang's return, whenever it comes, as a panacea to the line's problems. When Wang returns, Nick Marshman can move from right tackle to left guard, a position he is more suited to play. Wang would upgrade not for one struggling position, but two.

"It'll be a lot more solid," Brown said. "When he was here in the spring, we were looking good, moving the ball against our defense, producing like we wanted to."

Marshman, who filled in at tackle at times last season, was switched full time to guard in the offseason before being sent back to tackle to replace Wang. Coaches feel that his size -- Marshman weighs more than 350 pounds -- makes him best at creating holes in the middle, not stopping fast defensive ends on the edge.

"When he was at tackle last year, he looked a little bit better than he does this year," Brown said. "He had moved to guard and got accustomed to that. He's a big body in there. He's quick off the ball, but the defensive ends in the ACC can move a little quicker than he can at that weight. He's a mauler when he's at the guard position."