No QB rotation this season at Virginia Tech
Despite using a two-quarterback system that led the Hokies to the ACC Championship Game and an Orange Bowl berth last season, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer has decided to redshirt one half of that combination and go with Sean Glennon as the full-time starter this year.
At the start of camp, Virginia Tech’s coaching staff was content to let Glennon and Tyrod Taylor battle it out for the No. 1 job. They split snaps with the first team and neither built much of an edge through the team’s three full-squad scrimmages, leading to speculation that the Hokies would once again utilize a two-quarterback rotation this season. But Beamer decided his fifth-year senior would be a better fit for such a young club.
Taylor, a sophomore dual threat, decided on his own to take a redshirt rather than burn a second year of eligibility. The Hokies will use redshirt senior Cory Holt as Glennon’s backup. Holt, who has thrown only 19 passes in his college career, is taking the majority of the second-team snaps. Beamer said that if Glennon gets hurt that Taylor would not be redshirted.
“We’re going to try to redshirt Tyrod Taylor,” Beamer said. “I think in the long term, thinking about our football program, if we could get this done this is what we need to do. If we can stay away from injuries and play well as an offense and get this thing done, this is good for Tyrod, having a year and continuing to learn and develop. He’s only going to get better and better.”
Glennon began last season as the Hokies’ starting quarterback, but was replaced by Taylor after a slow start. Glennon got a second chance midway through the season when Taylor was injured, and reclaimed the job by playing well. He was named most valuable player in the Hokies’ victory over Boston College in the ACC title game and completed 143 of 235 passes (60.9 percent) for 1,796 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
A big reason Beamer used both QBs last season was that Taylor could make plays with his feet, which was necessary with a bad offensive line. However, this year’s unit appears much better and should give Glennon all the time he needs to thrive as a pocket passer.
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