BLACKSBURG -- They're ranked an all-time high seventh in the ESPN coaches' preseason poll. They're looking buff and fast. And in Friday's first preseason practice, they appeared more finely tuned than any Frank Beamer team ever for the first week of August.

"Today, I thought we were very good ... we were pretty sharp on both sides of the ball," said Beamer, following the Hokies' crisp two-hour-plus workout. "We've had a great summer as far as getting ready for a football season and I think it shows. This is one of the better first-day practices I can remember, to be honest with you."

Getting a break from a cloud cover that kept the thermometer from hitting the 90s, Tech came out of the box looking smooth and organized. There was little of the normal chaos and confusion of Day 1. Constantly barking coaches? Not this time.

In a first-day rarity, the Tech quarterbacks and receivers played pitch and catch like nobody's business. The throws were accurate. The passes were caught.

"The way we threw the ball and caught the ball was really encouraging," Beamer noted.

Quarterback Marcus Vick, who is expected to make his first college start in the Tech's Sept. 4 season opener at North Carolina State, gave a solid impression of a guy whose time has come.

The bulked-up Vick zipped the ball all around the lot. His receivers were there to find it on the other end. Sophomore split end Justin Harper made a couple of sweet catches and speed-burner David Clowney got loose deep for a long-distance connection.

Beamer said his most immediate decision will be settling on his backup QB. Sophomore Sean Glennon figures to be the leading candidate. Redshirt freshman Cory Holt, who fell behind when he missed the second half of spring drills because of pain in his throwing arm, is trying to beat out Glennon for the role of Vick's primary reserve.

"I think the way this works is we need to get Marcus the first-team reps and whoever it is the second-team reps," Beamer said. "We need to decide what we're going to do there pretty quickly."

Strong and fast

Tech strength-and-conditioning coach Mike Gentry said this Tech club has as much speed across the board as any in his 18 years in Blacksburg.

"We had over 40 guys power-clean [lift] over 300 pounds -- the best we've ever had -- and had over 40 guys push-jerk over their head 300 pounds and that's good," Gentry said. "Plus, we had more people pass the conditioning test than we've ever had, so we've had a good summer."

Trainer's table

Other than redshirt freshman offensive lineman Matt Welsh, who underwent recent knee surgery and won't report to camp until school starts on Aug. 22, the Hokies are in good shape physically. Free safety Justin Hamilton, wideout Eddie Royal, offensive lineman Tripp Carroll and special teams performer Ryan Hash, who all missed spring drills due to injuries, are back at full speed, Tech trainer Mike Goforth said.

Freshman QB Greg Boone, who stands a mammoth 6-foot-3, 287 pounds, is still hobbled by a partially torn MCL that he sustained in the VHSL All-Star Game. Boone's injury won't require surgery.

Tech tidbits

Varina High tailback Brandon Minor, one of the top five recruits in the state, was a visitor at Friday's practice. "Right now, I'm looking at Miami, Michigan, Florida, Tech, Tennessee, LSU and Ohio State," Minor said. "Everybody is about even." ... Wideout Percy Harvin, who is rated the nation's No. 1 recruit by Rivals.com, will be at today's workout. Harvin, who was Virginia's Group AAA player of the year, was greeted by "Welcome Percy" signs when he checked into his Blacksburg hotel room on Friday night. Southern California, Michigan, Miami, Florida State, Florida and Tennessee are among Harvin's other suitors. ... Freshman offensive lineman Brandon Holland of Northside High is not in camp yet. Tech is still awaiting Holland's summer school grades from Hargrave Military Academy.