BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -With Tyrod Taylor healthy again and Sean Glennon playing about as well as he ever has, it’s unclear which quarterback will start for Virginia Tech against Florida State on Saturday.
Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said Tuesday the coaching staff will decide whether to start Glennon or Taylor after they’ve put their game plan together and the decision won’t come before late Friday.
Taylor has recovered from an ankle sprain that kept him out of 2 1/2 games.
Glennon, a junior, started all last season and the first two games of this year, but was replaced by the more mobile Taylor after the 48-7 trouncing Virginia Tech suffered against LSU in the second week of the season.
Glennon, a drop-back passer, wasn’t at his best behind a shaky offensive line in the first two games for the No. 11 Hokies (7-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). He has played with more confidence since he got another chance when Taylor was injured in the first half of the Hokies’ game Oct. 13 at Duke. They won that game 43-14, with Glennon directing touchdown drives on his first three series.
Glennon completed 22 of 32 passes for 296 yards and two long touchdowns and ran for another score as the Hokies had a season-high 491 total yards in a 27-3 victory over Georgia Tech last Thursday. It was Glennon’s best game.
“I feel so good about my reads right now,” Glennon said.
“This is how I expected to be playing,” he said. “Although it gives me a lot of confidence and I’m glad I’m playing well, it’s almost a relief more than anything because I knew this is how I could play.”
He said he’d be disappointed not to start Saturday when the Seminoles (6-3, 3-3) come to town, but he would accept the coaches’ decision. “If the game plan dictates using Tyrod’s strengths, then that’s what we’ve got to do,” he said. “If the game plan or situation dictates for my strengths, then put me in there.”
Glennon’s play has also let him feel more comfortable as a leader.
After Josh Morgan had an onside kick to bounce off his chest against Boston College, allowing the Eagles to recover and then complete their remarkable comeback in a 14-10 loss for the Hokies, Glennon called Morgan late that night to reassure him.
He said Morgan had done the same after Glennon was demoted.
The Hokies have used two quarterbacks in the past with Bryan Randall and Marcus Vick sharing the job in 2003, but Beamer said it’s not a good option.
“One guy would have a good series, and they next guy didn’t have a good series, and then people are booing,” Beamer said. “It’s just hard to get the whole thing right.”
Randall, a former ACC Offensive Player of the Year whom Glennon looked to as a mentor, contacted Glennon after Taylor was named the starter to encourage him to stay positive. Glennon said Randall told him, “They’re going to need you eventually.
Virginia Tech is looking for its first win in seven tries against the Seminoles under Beamer, and Florida State coach Bobby Bowden is 15-0 in his career against Tech.
The Hokies will be without tight end Sam Wheeler and linebacker Vince Hall on Saturday, and could be without wide receiver/punt returner Eddie Royal and center Ryan Shuman, both of whom Beamer described as questionable to be ready.
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