BLACKSBURG -- Except for being knocked woozy and making an early exit against Florida State last season, quarterback Sean Glennon has been as durable as it comes during his Virginia Tech career.

Glennon has taken a bunch of big hits. He's gotten up every time.

"I don't want to jinx myself, but I pride myself on being a tough player," said Glennon, tapping his right knuckles on the wooden table Tuesday inside Lane Stadium. "Unless I really am hurt, I'm always going to pop up."

In order for sophomore backup Tyrod Taylor to take the redshirt season he has elected to spend, Glennon must stand erect. Translation: No serious injuries.

"I know that it's very important that I stay healthy for Tyrod's sake," said Glennon, who has played in 30 college games, including 22 starts. The senior redshirted in 2005 behind starter Marcus Vick.

"Marcus stayed healthy for my sake. I hope I can do the same thing, not only for Tyrod but my own sake. I'd like to play a full, healthy season. I'm just going to pray that nothing freak happens."

What's the cut-off point in which Taylor would shed his redshirt because of a serious injury to Glennon?

"That's something we just have to kind of wait and see how the season is, how the team is, record-wise," Hokies QBs coach Mike O'Cain said. "Just trying to answer hypothetically -- four games.

"That's kind of a time that if something would happen ... probably two or three games, something like that. If the injury looked long term ... it's hard to answer. But until you cross that bridge, you don't really need to answer it."

Basically, if Glennon holds up behind center, Tech and Taylor are off the hook.

"Coach [O'Cain] ... and we said no later than Game 4 or 5, because after that you'd just be playing half a season, basically," said Taylor, referring to discussions he and his parents had with his position coach on the redshirt decision.

Taylor wanted no part of sharing the spot. If he didn't start, he wanted a redshirt. Smart move, Glennon said.

"I plan on talking to [Taylor] eventually," Glennon said. "Just letting him know I did basically the same and, trust me, I'm glad I did it. I'm sure you will be in three years, too."

Holt, who saw minimal snaps from 2005-07 as a backup, was originally slated to play some wide receiver this fall until preseason practice started. The coaches switched him back to QB so the Taylor redshirt move could be made. O'Cain said he likes how Holt has handled things.

"He's gone from about this time last year until August without throwing any passes ... he was a receiver," O'Cain said. "He's come back and done a tremendous job, in my opinion, having not done it for a year. I believe he'd surprise some people, I really do."