BLACKSBURG -- What a difference three months has made for Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon.

In a move that would have undoubtedly been treated with a chorus of sarcastic jeers by Hokie fans in early September, Glennon confirmed Saturday that he has sent in his paperwork to the NFL advisory committee that grades college underclassmen on what their selection status may be should they declare early for next April's draft.

"It's more out of curiosity than anything else," said Glennon, who has resurrected his Tech career since losing his starting job to freshman Tyrod Taylor in the season's third week.

"I'm not saying that I'm out of here, but I was curious to see what the status is. To be honest, I have no plans of anything but coming back next year. But if for some odd reason I get my paperwork back and it says something really high, maybe I'll think about it."

Glennon finished the season with a flourish, completing 106 of 164 passes (64.6 percent) for 1,375 yards and 10 touchdowns, with only one interception in the last 6 ¹₂ games for the fifth-ranked Hokies (11-2). The junior was named the MVP in Tech's 30-16 victory over Boston College in the Dec. 1 ACC championship game.

Glennon, who graduated Friday, has one more year of eligibility left at Tech. He joins junior cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Macho Harris among Hokie underclassmen who have asked the advisory committee to evaluate their possible draft status.

"I'm 90 percent sure I will be back next year ... it's 90 percent out of curiosity and 10 percent out of maybe really considering it," said Glennon, stressing he's not entertaining any visions of grandeur.

"I would never consider it if I hadn't graduated. I just want to see where I stand. I want to know going into my senior year what my realistic shots are at playing at the next level, so since I got some good film at the end of this year I think they can probably give me a good estimate. And, hopefully, I can try and improve upon it my senior year."

Workout changes

In preparing his team for a 15th consecutive postseason appearance, Tech coach Frank Beamer has decided to amend some of his past bowl practice policies. The team's seven workouts in Blacksburg, which began Saturday and run through Friday, have been shortened to 75 minutes. In another change, the team's 20 seniors won't participate in practice today and Monday, giving Beamer and his staff some time to take a good look at younger players.

"The thing is you come off playing in the ACC championship game and you feel like you're playing very well," Beamer said. "And trying to keep that for a month and playing very well in the Orange Bowl, it's a challenge for everyone.

"I'm more interested in doing things well than I am doing them over and over, and see if we can't get this same execution going in the bowl game that we had for the championship game. So we're cutting back a little bit. And, hopefully, we'll be very spirited, very fast, very quick ... fast and furious is how I would like to describe our practices."

The team will work on fundamentals Tuesday and Wednesday, then spend Thursday and Friday working on how to attack No. 8 Kansas (11-1). The players will embark for home for Christmas before returning to Blacksburg on Dec. 27. The team will travel to Miami on Dec. 28.

The Hokies will conduct their on-site bowl workouts at the Miami Dolphins' practice facility at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Fla.

The graduates

Their uniforms didn't include a helmet or pads, but 10 Tech players were happy to don the lighter gear of a cap and gown for Friday's graduation ceremonies. The list of Hokies receiving their degrees included Barry Booker, Chris Ellis, Matt Finnegan, Vince Hall, Josh Hyman, Nick Marshman, Kory Robertson (Magna Vista), Eddie Royal, Brett Warren and Glennon.

Roanoke's Lee Suggs also was among the happy grads. Suggs, 26, a standout at William Fleming High and Tech from 1999-2002, returned to school to finish requirements for his degree last fall after spending four seasons in the NFL with Cleveland and Miami.