Tech’s Tyrod Taylor will play this weekend

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech’s one-quarterback plan lasted all of one game.

Hokies coach Frank Beamer announced Tuesday during his weekly press conference that both fifth-year senior Sean Glennon and sophomore Tyrod Taylor would play this Saturday in Tech’s home opener against Furman.

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Beamer didn’t reveal which quarterback would start, though Glennon was listed as Tech’s No. 1 in the game notes distributed to reporters. Beamer also declined to comment on how many snaps either quarterback would play.

The recent decision is an about-face from what Beamer announced last Tuesday, when he officially named Glennon the starter and told reporters of the Hokies’ plan to redshirt Taylor.

“I think this football team needs Tyrod Taylor,” Beamer said Tuesday.

Beamer gave Glennon a vote of confidence during a teleconference with reporters Monday.

He said he didn’t consider playing Taylor during Saturday’s 27-22 loss to East Carolina, despite the offense’s struggles. And when asked if he liked where Glennon was headed, he said, “Other than a couple of plays, I thought he played well.”

But Beamer outlined his reasons for making the change on Tuesday, citing the team’s need to diversify its run game as being first and foremost.

“It’s just a fact that we need to be able to run the football, and I think putting another guy in the game that can help you run the football is in our best interests,” Beamer said.

Taylor is Tech’s leading returning rusher from 2007. He gained 429 yards and scored six rushing touchdowns in 11 games.

The Hokies ran for only 102 yards Saturday against the Pirates. Their lack of success on the ground was most evident during their penultimate drive, which ended with ECU’s blocked punt return for the game-winning touchdown.

Tech needed to burn the clock, but instead moved backwards on three plays. Darren Evans gained a yard on first down. Junior running back Kenny Lewis lost 10 yards on a screen pass, and Lewis gained six yards on third down.

Glennon’s performance against ECU didn’t play into the decision, Beamer said.

Glennon threw two interceptions, one inside ECU’s red zone and one that was returned to Tech’s 1-yard line and eventually led to a Pirates’ touchdown.

“Sean played well, except for a couple of plays. … It’s not that. It’s about our football team, and being the best football team we can be,” Beamer said. “And I think Tyrod, and what he can do, helps us be the best football team that we can be.”

Tech’s players seem to agree, though the five players who showed up for the press conference were surprised by the news. Beamer’s announcement was the first they’d heard of the two-quarterback decision.

“I feel like both of those guys, they make each other better,” Lewis said. “You can make it a competition, but it’s not a competition. They complement each other.”

The two split snaps down the stretch last season, and the results were mostly good.

Taylor showcased his skills in wins over Florida State (204 passing yards and two touchdowns) and Virginia (two rushing touchdowns), while Glennon came up big in wins over Georgia Tech (296 yards, three touchdowns) and Boston College in the ACC championship game (three touchdowns, game MVP).

“We did it last year and it wasn’t a problem,” senior offensive guard Nick Marshman said. “Both of them bring something different to the table.”

Beamer said he would not make either player available to the media this week. He said Glennon was disappointed by the news, and Taylor, who had expressed a desire to not split snaps at quarterback last week, was excited.

“Tyrod likes to play,” Beamer said. “When it’s time to kick it off, he likes to play, and that’s one of the things I like about both guys. They’re both very competitive.”