ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- For the first time in three seasons, there's no question which quarterback will start for Virginia Tech, whether there will be a two-quarterback system, or how the quarterbacks will be used.

	John David Mercer/US Presswire
	Tyrod Taylor is dangerous on the move, but that has also gotten him in trouble with injuries.

Virginia Tech is now Tyrod Taylor's team, and while there are plenty of reasons why that's a good thing, there's one glaring problem with Taylor being the only option -- there's nobody else behind him with any experience. Taylor is a competitor who isn't going to back down from fighting with his feet for the first down, and it has cost him a few ankle injuries. But coach Frank Beamer's concern over Taylor putting himself in harm's way seems to have mellowed a bit because of the talent that has blossomed around Taylor.

"I think you just have to play smart, know when you need to go, know when you need to get down, and know when you need to get out of bounds," Beamer said. "I think being a year older, and again, people around him are better. That really helps. We needed a quarterback that could make plays with the last couple of teams, and now I think those people around him can help make the plays, so I think it's kind of a different story for him."

At some point, though, Virginia Tech fans are likely to be introduced to redshirt freshman Ju-Ju Clayton, who earned the backup job after just three weeks of spring practices. Clayton's development this summer will be critical. There's no lack of faith in him, though, from Beamer.

"We've got to work hard to get Ju-Ju Clayton ready, and I think Ju-Ju will be a better quarterback starting fall camp than he was in spring practice, because that's what he's about," Beamer said. "He's hardworking, he's smart, he's a great leader. I think we need to get him to come along. I think before the season is over, he's going to be in a position to win a football game for us. I think he's going to be of that caliber. I really believe that. I think he'll keep getting better, and if he had to go in there and win one, he could do it. Now whether it's going to be early or not, I'm not sure about that, but in the end, I think he's going to be a good backup quarterback."

Beamer said he still wants Marcus Davis to continue to throw the ball, even though he made the switch to receiver this spring. Beamer said that doesn't necessarily mean that he's ruling out Davis as a future quarterback, but he wants to get Davis on the field somewhere.

"You look at the receiving corps, and I don't know how we're going to play, but we look good," Beamer said. "We've got Marcus Davis, you look at him out there, and Xavier Boyce, he's about 6-3 and Marcus is about 6-4 ... we're a good lookin' crowd out there. Marcus Davis needs to be on the field."