Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech quarterback Cory Holt attempts to escape Florida State's Markus White during a fourth-quarter drive.

BLACKSBURG -- While Virginia Tech's two walking wounded quarterbacks -- Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon -- limped around in Rector Fieldhouse, a pair of ex-QBs ran the Hokies' offense in practice Tuesday.

For wide receiver Cory Holt, it was his first practice reps at QB in six weeks. For tight end Greg Boone, it was his first time behind center in practice in more than two years.

How did they look? Pretty good, both said.

"I'm still a little rusty with some timing things, but in a couple of days, I think I will be back up to speed again," said Holt, a fifth-year senior who played the final 20 minutes-plus in Tech's 30-20 loss at Florida State last Saturday after Taylor and Glennon were sidelined by left ankle sprains.

"Today, I just wanted to come out here and try to be as accurate as possible and not make any mistakes as far as turnovers. I was pretty successful from that standpoint."

While Holt took the majority of the reps, Boone estimated he only got "five or six" snaps.

"It went pretty well for the first time being out there for a couple of years," said Boone, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound junior who played QB in high school. "I was a little off today for the first time throwing. Fortunately, things will get better as the week goes along.

"In a perfect world, by next week Sean and Tyrod and will be healthy so we don't have to worry about it. But I'm not even sure of the chances of that."

With Taylor's injury being a high ankle sprain, Glennon figures to have the best shot at recovering in time to play a week from Thursday when Tech (5-3, 2-2 ACC) faces 25th-ranked Maryland (6-2, 3-1) at Lane Stadium. Other than that, it's anybody's guess.

"We don't know," quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain said Tuesday. "Look at them on Saturday and see how they're progressing, and make the plan from there. I think we will be able to get a feel Saturday if they will be ready to play ... to what extent we won't be able to know yet."

If neither can go in eight days, Holt will be the man.

"It's very exciting," said Holt of the possibility that looms. "Like I told somebody today, I didn't want it this way. But things happen for a reason, and if this is my time to shine and God has given me an opportunity, I've got to make the best of it."

Coming off the bench cold at FSU, Holt performed admirably, completing three passes for 28 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown pass to Andre Smith, on Tech's only second-half scoring drive.

"Just to go in at quarterback, unexpected, in a hostile environment, it was strange. But I loved every minute of it," Holt said.

"Since the game, I've heard from a lot of excited people. A lot of family and friends were waiting on me to get that opportunity for four years."

Now he's got a shot at making his first college start. No less at quarterback, where his career started before being moved to receiver near the end of last season.

"To hear my name called out as the starting quarterback at Lane Stadium, man!" said Holt, his eyes growing wider. "It would be like a dream come true. And maybe things will happen right."