Sean Glennon is having difficulty gripping a football right now, but his grasp on Virginia Tech's starting quarterback position remains quite firm as the Hokies prepare to open spring practice Wednesday.

After revealing Monday that Glennon will likely miss some early workouts because of a cut thumb on his right throwing hand, Tech coach Frank Beamer hardly sounded a man concerned about his offense's main trigger man.

"Sean had an accident in his apartment ... he cut it on a bottle, I think," Beamer said Monday. "I think he's got like three stitches in there. He has trouble gripping the ball ... and I'm not sure how long he'll be out. I don't think it will be long, probably a couple days. It's nothing major."

While many Tech fans have yet to forgive Glennon for his four fourth-quarter turnovers that fueled the Hokies' 31-24 collapse to Georgia in the Dec. 30 Chick-fil-A Bowl, Beamer talked like a coach currently satisfied with "status quo" in regards to his QB rotation.

"Glennon is our quarterback, but I expect some strong competition," Beamer said. "Cory Holt and Ike Whitaker will be in the battle."

Fact is, Glennon is the only one of the trio with serious game experience. He started every game last season, completing 170 of 302 passes (56.3 percent) for 2,191 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Holt, a fellow fourth-year junior, has played minimal minutes in seven games the past two seasons. Whitaker, a third-year sophomore, got 44 snaps in five games last season before entering alcohol rehabilitation and missing the bowl game.

Toss out his three interceptions and lost fumble in the final quarter against a Georgia defense overpowering his blockers, and Glennon's season didn't look nearly as bad, Beamer noted.

"I think he was a very steady quarterback," Beamer said. "We won 10 games with Sean. He's got a lot of pluses. I think the one thing with Sean is he just makes good decisions."

In a switch he thinks can help Glennon's decision-making process, Beamer said all three QBs will go "live" in spring scrimmage work.

"I think Sean needs more work just running with the football," Beamer said. "He came off a great high school team, had some great people around him, and he could throw the ball and get away and never had to run very much. And talking with [QBs coach] Mike O'Cain, I think that's really something we need to do here with him to help him.

"It gives all of 'em a chance to play the game full speed. I think it's what our football team needs right now."

A lot of eyes will be focused on Whitaker, a talented dual-threat player who is attempting to rekindle his career after spending almost a month in alcohol rehab.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Ike out there," Beamer said. "He's been around here with a smile on his face. He's gaining weight, and he's on a good path right now."

Beamer hopes he can say the same thing for his kickers before drills conclude with the April 21 spring game. Tech lost deadly accurate kicker Brandon Pace, solid punter Nic Schmitt and deft deep snapper Nick Leeson to graduation. While Beamer sounded reasonably assured that redshirt sophomore Brent Bowden and redshirt senior Bart McMillin can capably fill those last two openings, he's not nearly as certain about Pace's heir apparent. A pair of seniors -- Jared Develli and Jud Dunlevy -- will get the first crack at the job.

How unsettled is Beamer about his new specialists right now? So much that he and his staff are offering a "tryout" for kickers and punters Saturday.

"Field goal is wide open," Beamer said. "Develli and Dunlevy have both been big kick-off guys for us, both have exceptionally strong legs. I think we've got good talent, but they've only used their talent in practice."

Tech tidbits

Three returning starters, sophomore guard Sergio Render (knee), senior defensive end Chris Ellis (shoulder) and cornerback Brandon Flowers (ankle), underwent surgical procedures in January and won't participate in spring drills. When asked about the availability of senior backup corner Roland Minor, Beamer said: "He's concentrating on his academics right now." ... Brandon Holland, a 6-foot-4, 325-pound sophomore from Northside High, will start workouts in Render's right guard spot. "Holland is playing Render's position, but in the end it really doesn't matter because we're going to get the five best guys on the field," Beamer said. "I think Brandon has got good talent. He just needs to work on developing consistency right now."