Collegiate Times

08.27.08 centerpiece

Sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor will redshirt for the 2008 season, Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer announced this afternoon during his weekly press conference. Taylor will receive a fifth year of eligibility extending through 2012.

"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."

Beamer suggested that Taylor would significantly benefit from the extra year of experience. Tech is not likely to see a senior class turnover of last season's magnitude for another four years.

"This is good for Tyrod, having a year and continuing to learn and develop," Beamer said. "He's only going to get better."

Beamer said redshirt senior Sean Glennon will start under center for the Hokies this fall with redshirt senior Cory Holt as back up. Glennon fought through a tumultuous junior season, temporarily losing his starting duties to Taylor. He eventually climbed back to the top of the depth chart before helping lead Tech to the ACC championship and its first Orange Bowl bid in 12 seasons.

"(Glennon) is solid, he's smart, he's experienced," Beamer said. "He's made some great plays for Virginia Tech in some big games."

Tech experimented with a dual-quarterback scheme intermittently throughout the 2007 season. However, Glennon appeared to be the stronger choice for starter as August scrimmages wore on.

Coaches took notice of Glennon's performance during the pre-season game. Glennon threw 11 for 19, with 103 yards and a touchdown in the two quarters of play. Taylor completed 11 of 17 passes for 76 yards and one interception.

However, after the game Beamer insisted he had not decided who would start and would not announce his decision before the opening game, inciting speculation that the two quarterbacks could be splitting time like last season.

The rumors and speculation largely came to close Tuesday, when Beamer formally unveiled that Glennon would start as quarterback for the Hokies. While Beamer has a veteran quarterback, a significant portion of Tech's roster - particularly at wide receiver - has no collegiate football experience. Most of Glennon's targets are freshmen.

Beamer noted that this youthfulness could be the team's biggest challenge.

"I don't know when we've had 41 percent of our team that's never been in the game before, but we do have a lot of good players," Beamer said. "If you know what you're doing, you're OK, even though the setting is new and you're in a new situation."

Beamer added that although the team is certainly younger than usual, the group is also very talented.

"A large percentage of those freshmen, we're going to be happy they're here before it's all over," Beamer said. "It's a little bit scary, but it says a couple things. We lost a couple kids from last year, but we are very impressed with our freshman class."

Tech also has a packed stable of running backs to complement Glennon's passing game. Beamer announced junior tailback Kenny Lewis will start this season. Lewis backed up starter Branden Ore last year, collecting just 205 yards and four touchdowns. Backing Lewis will be redshirt freshmen Darren Evans and Josh Oglesby.

Beamer expressed his optimism for a successful season after sorting out the team's top personnel issues.

"I'm excited to see how this whole thing progresses," Beamer said. "We know exactly the direction we are going right now: full speed."