Collegiate Times

As both the clock and Sean Glennon's passing pocket closed during the fourth quarter of the ACC Championship game, the Virginia Tech quarterback waited just a beat before firing into the teeth of the Boston College secondary.

Eddie Royal's leaping grab gave Tech the go-ahead touchdown and a 2008 Orange Bowl bid, and left the Golden Eagles lamenting the fact that Tech possessed four senior receivers who'd had plenty of time to fall in rhythm with their quarterback.

Well, they're all gone now.

When Glennon and Tyrod Taylor are scrambling in search for a pair of hands to trust, they won't see the same old palms.

"I've been throwing to them for four years," Glennon said, before focusing forward. "Turnover is a part of the college game."

This year's turnover includes seniors Josh Hyman, Josh Morgan, Justin Harper and Eddie Royal -- a group who recorded 406 catches, 6075 yards and 42 touchdowns while part of the winningest class in school history.

Now that perhaps the most successful group of Tech receivers has simultaneously moved on, the Hokies must hurry to prepare next year's group.

Given that the most experienced candidate -- Zach Luckett -- only recorded two catches last year, every day of training camp matters.

"We're going to create as much competition with those guys as we can," said wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman. "If we go against our defense every day ... we'll be ready for the season opener against East Carolina."

The Hokie secondary seems like the perfect crash course for a green group of pass catchers, and it's vital that they get acquainted with the quarterbacks and the playbook quickly.

"That's key for us," said offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring. "We lost people who were instrumental in a lot of yardage, a lot of big plays and instrumental in us winning games."

This spring, there's a large influx of candidates who are well-versed in strategy and experience, but from different perspectives.

Defensive back Victor "Macho" Harris has intercepted nine passes over the past three seasons, but this year the coaching staff wants him to catch some from his own team's quarterback as well; he's scheduled to participate heavily at the flanker position in each of the first six spring practices.

Two of the front runners for the flanker position are former special teamers Brandon Dillard, a redshirt sophomore, and Luckett, a redshirt freshman. Both Dillar and Luckett possess incredible speed worthy of filling the void left by their predecessors -- but still have a lot of work to do in other areas to draw major comparisons.

Redshirt freshmen Patrick Terry and Ervin Garner could also fight their way to playing time over the next few months.

At split end, former quarterbacks are in vogue. Ike Whitaker and Cory Holt will try their hands on the other end with the real possibility of grabbing the starting jobs.

Holt sees the ability to adapt high-ceiling potential and signal calling experience as a strength.

"As quarterback, you know all the plays, already know where to go and what to do, which makes running the routes much easier," Holt said.

At flanker, young talent still dominates the sideline-friendly section of the receiving corps as well, with redshirt sophomore Prince Parker and redshirt freshman Danny Coale in the mix for playing time at split end.

Luckett warns to be wary of counting youth as a weakness.

"I feel so focused," Luckett said, "Everyone's doubting us because we're young and inexperienced ... we'll just have to go out and prove ourselves."