Blogging here live from the Cassell Coliseum basketball media room, where I’m accompanied by nine very large copying machines (I felt like Frogger trying to get around them … right, forward, left, left, left, forward, right, back, left, OK that’s enough).

Just finished writing my notes from VT’s second full spring scrimmage. I’ll post them at the end of this blog entry. Here are a few observations from the scrimmage.

*One of the Hokies’ main objectives this spring is to build depth essentially everywhere. I must say I was impressed by many backup, or should I say complementary, players on the Tech roster.

Quarterback Ju-Ju Clayton orchestrated a 95-yard touchdown drive that he completed with an 8-yard TD pass to fullback Kenny Younger. Clayton is still in a heated battle for the backup QB job with fellow redshirt freshman Marcus Davis, who had some impressive runs, including a 62-yard dash to the end zone toward the end of the scrimmage.

Much-ballyhooed tailback Ryan Williams has star potential. He will be a major threat in that No. 2 tailback position behind Darren Evans, who looks like he has picked off where he left off when he won the Orange Bowl MVP back in January. Evans bowled over a player right in front of the end zone Saturday. He didn’t get the TD, but the crowd oohed and ahhed like he did.

As for Williams, he ran through some big holes, zigged and zagged past defenders and made himself a general nuisance to the Tech defenders. With Evans and Williams, the Hokies could have a tailback tandem in the mold of James Davis and C.J. Spiller at Clemson or Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown at Auburn.

And let’s not leave out Josh Oglesby, who is running with purpose this spring and looks like he could been a major factor in the tailback race by the beginning of the season in September. He had a few nifty plays Saturday, including a swing pass that he turned into a big gain.

*My gut tells me Tech is going to go with Clayton as the No. 2 quarterback exiting spring practice, but I don’t think that will completely leave Davis out of the race in the fall. He is so physically gifted and he has a burst of speed reminiscent of past great Tech quarterbacks (need I name names?) He’ll be a factor somewhere.

*Clayton and Davis sat side by side at a table during post-scrimmage interviews. They talked about how they’ve worked together to get ready for the backup role. They even have spent time in one of the classes they share – an introductory acting class – going over cadences (the voice inflections quarterbacks use during snap counts).

“It’s not a big class, but the teacher can’t really focus on us. … It’s a class where we’re allowed to talk and interact with each other warming up before the start of class. We’ll just go around. He’ll say something to me, and I’ll say it back. It’s not like we’re interrupting or anything,” Davis said.

I’ll have more this week. Look for a feature on backup punter Brian Saunders, who hails from nearby Nelson County. I had a nice conversation with Ryan Williams today, and I’ll have something on him heading into the spring game.

Here are my notes ...

HD: VT backup QB battle heating up
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech was hoping to decide on a backup quarterback by Monday, but that could be hard to do after what redshirt freshmen Ju-Ju Clayton and Marcus Davis showed the coaching staff during a scrimmage Saturday at Lane Stadium.

The 6-foot, 215-pound Clayton got most of the second-team snaps at the start of the scrimmage and seemed very much in control. He led the team on a 95-yard drive that culminated with his eight-yard touchdown pass to fullback Kenny Younger.

Not to be outdone, the 6-4, 230-pound Davis, who received a steady dose of second-team snaps – and some with the first team – toward the end of the scrimmage, took off on a couple of nifty runs. He had a zig-zagging 62-yard touchdown run and finished with 83 rushing yards on only five carries.

“When (Clayton) had that drive, that’s the first thing that came to my mind is, ‘I’ve got to go out there and do something to show that I’m ready to play also and so the coaches can’t say I can’t handle the pressure,’” Davis said. “That really fueled me to go out there and do something.”

Clayton completed 6 of 7 pass attempts for 58 yards. Davis was 2-for-5 for 13 yards.

Hokies coach Frank Beamer is hopeful a decision can be made by Monday, but it still may be too early to know which one is better to back up starter Tyrod Taylor.

“We’re going to take a good look at this video and then make a decision from there, but I don’t know if we’re in the position to make a definite decision right now,” Beamer said.  “Both of them kind of had their moments.”

***Can he make it four?
Matt Waldron, who connected on field goals of 37 and 35 yards Saturday, appears to be the front-runner for Tech’s open place-kicker position. And it’s not because he’s wearing jersey No. 1 this spring.

The fifth-year senior has shown much improvement from last season and has been the most consistent of the Hokies’ kickers this spring.

Waldron transferred to Tech from Penn State in 2006. He was the Nittany Lions backup kicker in 2005 when they beat Florida State 26-23 in triple overtime at the Orange Bowl. And he was a member of the Hokies’ two Orange Bowl teams in 2007 and 08.

So if Tech makes a return trip to Miami in January, Waldron could have an Orange Bowl ring for every year of his college eligibility.

“I’ve got a nice little trophy case (for my rings),” Waldron said. “I’d actually like to play and earn a ring now. That’s my goal.”

***Injuries not serious
A couple of players went down with injuries Saturday, but Hokies head athletic trainer Mike Goforth said afterward that he thought they’d all be OK.

Jaymes Brooks, who has started at right guard this spring, went down with a high left ankle sprain and had to be helped off the field. Goforth said x-rays were negative.

Defensive tackle Courtney Prince suffered a right knee sprain, and linebacker Jeron Gouveia-Winslow sprained his right knee and right ankle.

All three could be out for the rest of the spring, but they should be ready to go for the start of fall practice.

***Extra points
Tailback Ryan Williams continued his breakout spring with 32 yards on four carries Saturday. That brings his full scrimmage rushing total this spring to 154 yards on 12 carries (12.8-yard per carry average). … Cris Hill, who is battling Rashad Carmichael for the starting field cornerback job, led all defenders with six tackles Saturday. He also had a pass break up. … Former Brookville player Josh Eadie had a tackle for loss in the scrimmage. … Tight end Greg Boone led all receivers with three catches for 30 yards and a touchdown. … Taylor completed 6 of 10 passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. … The Hokies spring game kicks off at 2 p.m. next Saturday at Lane Stadium. Admission is free.

—Nathan Warters