Collegiate Times

Two former Virginia Tech Hokies officially started their trek to an NFL career Saturday in the East-West Shrine Bowl.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor and center Beau Warren suited up for the victorious East squad. 

Many eyes were set on Taylor, the all-time wins leader among Hokie signal-callers.

The biggest concerns with Taylor heading to the next level are his lack of height (he is just six feet tall) and his passing accuracy from inside the pocket.

Taylor played well on Saturday, completing four-of-five passes for 60 yards. 

He directed two first-quarter touchdown drives. The second score came on a four-yard run by Evan Royster, former Westfield (Va.) High and Penn State star.

Taylor’s most impressive play came on a third down in the first quarter when he stood tall in the pocket and completed a 17-yard strike to Terrance Turner for a first down.

Replays showed Taylor twitched his feet, apparently thinking of breaking the pocket and scrambling like he did in college.

Josh Liskiewitz of The Sporting News gave praise to Taylor’s natural ability, but added he needs to be more patient in the
pocket.  

“He flashed his athleticism getting out of the pocket but seemed too quick to tuck the ball and run,” Liskiewitz said following Thursday’s practice from Mobile, Ala. “He needs to be more patient working through his progressions and view running as more of a last resort.”

By staying in and delivering the long throw on target, it showed Taylor is working to hone his game for the NFL.

“Arm strength, pocket presence and to show I’m looking to guys up the field,” Taylor told the NFL Network on what he wanted scouts to see before the draft.

That doesn’t mean Taylor will keep his legs cemented inside the hash marks all the time. 

Later on the drive, he scrambled for a seven-yard gain on a third-and-three before ducking out of bounds.

The success of mobile quarterbacks such as former Hokie great Michael Vick, Vince Young and even Tim Tebow could make NFL teams more likely to take a chance on Taylor, who provides the added threat of turning a broken play into a positive one.

Most scouts hoped to see Taylor work out as a wide receiver and kick returner, like former college stars Joshua Cribbs and Brad Smith, who have succeeded playing in the NFL, but Taylor was adamant about practicing exclusively at quarterback.

If the NFL doesn’t work out, one renowned draft analyst thinks Taylor still has a bright future playing football.

During NFL Network’s broadcast of the game, Mike Mayock said he believed Taylor was an “ideal” quarterback for the Canadian Football League, where quarterbacks roll out of the pocket much more frequently than in the NFL. According to Mayock, Taylor’s size and speed are much better suited for the CFL.

The next stop for Taylor is the NFL Combine in Indianapolis in late February. Warren, a two-year starter at center at Tech, has not been invited but he will take part in the Hokies’ Pro Day workouts in March.

A version of this article appeared in the Jan 25 issue of the Collegiate Times.