Race for backup Tech quarterback still a toss-up

BLACKSBURG

Marcus Davis could sense the job slipping away. He and fellow redshirt freshman Ju Ju Clayton spent most of spring in a battle for Virginia Tech's backup quarterback job.

But Clayton opened Saturday's scrimmage by floating a perfect 12-yard fade to Dyrell Roberts in the back of the end zone - against the first-string defense. Clayton then led Tech's second-string offense - against the second defens e - on a 95-yard scoring drive.

Clayton hit all four passes on the drive for 51 yards, scrambled three times for 34 yards and polished it off with a deft play-action fake and an 8-yard touchdown toss to fullback Kenny Younger.

Clayton finished 7 of 9 for 70 yards and no turnovers.

In this critical audition, Davis - an Ocean Lakes graduate - had been invisible.

"When he had that drive, the first thing that came to my mind was, 'I've got to go out there and do something to show I'm ready to play also,' " Davis said. "So the coaches wouldn't say, 'He can't handle the pressure.' That really fueled me."

Davis' answer: a 62-yard touchdown run. While that was against the third-string defense, Davis later rushed twice for 16 yards against the No. 1 unit.

He finished with 85 yards on six carries and completed 3 of 6 passes for 19 yards. Davis saved himself from a concession speech.

"I don't think we're in position to make a definite decision right now," Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "Both of them kind of had their moments. What I see is hope - that we're going to have a pretty good backup here before it's all over."

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Taylor improving

Starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed 6 of 14 passes for 54 yards Saturday, working mostly against the first-string defense. Taylor sprayed a few passes high and wide early, but finished with a 10-yard touchdown strike to tight end Greg Boone.

" He missed a couple balls that he'll normally hit," said quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain.

"I don't worry too much about that. He'll be fine. He's improved his throwing motion. He's throwing the ball quicker. He's delivering the ball quicker. For the most part this spring, he's very accurate."

Taylor apparently fixed the "hitch" in his throwing motion, which got so much attention last fall. Even more important: Taylor's improved recognition of defensive schemes.

"Tyrod now sees that safety move a little bit," O'Cain said. "He sees the ends or linebackers adjust and shift and do those little things that give you a pre-snap advantage. It takes a couple years for that. It's just repetition. You can't speed it along."

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Injury update

The Hokies got a scare early in the scrimmage when starting offensive lineman Jaymes Brooks injured his left ankle.

He was helped off the field and eventually returned to the sideline on crutches, wearing a protective boot.

"He's just got an ankle sprain," trainer Mike Goforth said. "X-rays were negative. Nothing I'm worried about."

But Brooks likely will miss the final week of spring practice. Joining him are defensive tackle Courtney Prince, who sprained his right knee Saturday, and linebacker Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, who injured his right knee and ankle.

Goforth said Prince and Gouveia-Winslow should be ready to go come fall.