BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech junior cornerback Brandon Flowers said Monday that he plans to send in his paperwork to the NFL advisory committee that grades college underclassmen on where they may figure to be selected in next April's draft.

Flowers, whom Bud Foster says is the best corner he's ever had in his 13 years as the Hokies' defensive coordinator, said unless he receives a grade from the committee that assures he will be a first-round pick that he will return to school for his senior season.

"It would have to be a definite," Flowers said Monday night. "You know how the draft goes, people slip to like the second and third rounds. Unless it's a 'definite-definite' out there, you can look for me back in Blacksburg next year.

"I think any junior who has like a top name should send their name into the committee, but right now I'm leaning on coming back and getting my degree. I want to come back and get my degree anyway. Plus, I want to finish what I started here. I feel like I've got more plays to make. I'm not done yet, so we're going to see how that goes."

Flowers, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound fourth-year junior from Delray Beach, Fla., was a first-team All-ACC selection and a third-team Associated Press All-American last season when he led the league in pass breakups (18) and passes defended (21). Much to the disbelief of the Tech coaching staff, Flowers was a second-team choice on this year's All-ACC team that was announced earlier Monday.

Meanwhile, Flowers' counterpart, junior Macho Harris, was selected to the first team. Many of the 146 members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association that voted on the all-conference team may have had a problem with selecting both Tech corners to the first team.

"That doesn't bother me," Flowers said. "As far as Macho goes, man, I told him I was proud of him and that he deserved it. I told him 'we're going to celebrate.' I might pay for his dinner for him making that. He made a tremendous jump from last year to this year; he earned that first team."

Wake Forest's Alphonso Smith, who led the ACC in interceptions (eight) and passes defended (18), received 127 votes. Harris, who had five interceptions and 16 passes defended, garnered 81 votes. Boston College's DeJuan Tribble, who had five picks and 12 passes defended, received 77 votes. Flowers, who had five interceptions and seven breakups, was the last corner to make the team with 73 votes.

However, Flowers' 72 tackles, which ranks third on the Hokies' defense, was 28 more than Harris registered, and more than double the amount of Harris (29) and Tribble (33). Flowers' 12 passes defended was much a product of teams staying away from his side.

"I said early that if [teams] don't throw at me, they're going to throw at Macho and he's going to make plays," said Flowers, who plays Tech's boundary position. "He's showing everybody he can play."

Trainer's table

Freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who missed the first BC game with a high right ankle sprain, was absent from Monday's practice. Tech coach Frank Beamer said that Taylor had a "flu-like bug" and was given permission to return home to Hampton on Monday. "I think Tyrod will be OK by Saturday," Beamer said.

Meanwhile, two starting offensive linemen -- right tackle Ed Wang and center Ryan Shuman -- sat out Monday's workout.

Beamer said he's hopeful that Wang (leg) and Shuman (knee swelling) will be back at full speed for Saturday. Starting tight end Greg Boone (sore hamstring) also was out Monday.

"We need all those guys," Beamer said. "We're going to take it easy with them."