Photos by MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech defensive end J.R. Collins (left) rushes a pass attempt by quarterback Logan Thomas (right) during the Hokies' intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg.

Photos by MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech running back Darren Evans (32) squeezes past defender James Hopper (left) during Saturday's scrimmage at Lane Stadium.

Roanoke-area youth league football players Bryson Schnaare (left), Avante Robinson (middle) and Amareon King (right) get autographs from Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor after Saturday's scrimmage.

Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer (left) gives instructions during Saturday's scrimmage at Lane Stadium. The Hokies open the season Sept. 6 against Boise State in Landover, Md.

BLACKSBURG -- The two candidates for Virginia Tech's backup quarterback job have stated their cases.

Now, it's up to the judges.

Logan Thomas or Ju-Ju Clayton? Who's going to be the No. 2 behind senior starter Tyrod Taylor this season?

The final answer could come as soon as today.

''We'll probably make the decision [today], and go ahead and tell those guys and then we'll be ready to announce it,'' quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain said after Saturday's scrimmage. "It's time now to make that decision and move forward.''

If strong final arguments mean much, Thomas has to be the pick. The 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman completed nine of 17 passes for 82 yards on Saturday, numbers that far overshadowed Clayton's 3-for-8 for 36 passing yards.

"Well yeah, I think [Thomas] did have the better day, but that doesn't mean he had the better six days,'' O'Cain said. "I thought he threw the ball a little bit better, stood in the pocket and made a couple of nice throws, but you evaluate it over a six- or seven-day period or nine practices. I guess today was our ninth practice.

''It's just been very good competition. They've been very close. They've both worked hard. Both have had their good throws, their bad throws.

"To be honest with you, I'd feel comfortable with either of them being the second quarterback.''

Thomas said it will be nice to get the decision.

''I'll be happy to get this over with,'' the ex-Brookville High star said. "If I'm the No. 2, I will focus more on quarterback, of course, and if I'm No. 3, then maybe I could get a chance to play another position.''

That other position would be tight end, where Thomas got a total of six snaps Wednesday through Friday in practice.

''I really had no clue [of the decision to play him at tight end],'' Thomas said. "I was just hoping they would still give me a chance to play quarterback. If they are trying to put me at tight end ... I'm open to that.''

Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring, who coaches the tight ends, said the move was an "introductory class'' for Thomas, who played the position at Brookville.

''Introducing him a little bit, getting him sharp to it, catching the ball again, running some routes ... very limited,'' Stinespring said. "The thinking is you've got a [6-foot-6], 240-pound kid who verticals 40 inches and can run and catch. I think there's something to having him prepared to do other things ... if he happens to be our backup quarterback, I think there's a possibility of using him [at another position]. I think he needs to be on the field. We wouldn't be repping him at tight end or h-back if we didn't feel like it."

"You want to get your best players on the field, and I remember when we redshirted this Vick kid one time, and I kept looking at this guy standing there in a baseball cap charting plays,'' added Stinespring, referring to Michael Vick in 1998. ''It was hard to fathom there a little bit. I think you keep options to see where it goes.''

Obviously, using your backup QB to play some at tight end also involves some risk.

Stinespring agreed.

He's already thought of a worst-case scenario.

"Tyrod drops back and hits Logan down the middle ... Logan gets dinged in the earhole and Tyrod twists his ankle ... and you're going to see somebody coming out of the stadium with no parachute,'' said Stinespring, jokingly referring to himself and his game-day perch high above Lane Stadium.

n Chris Hazley and Brian Saunders, a pair of fifth-year seniors, were awarded scholarships this week, giving Tech coach Frank Beamer reason to believe that his kicking game will be solid.

Hazley was 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts Saturday, hitting from 29, 43, 48 and 31 yards. Saunders averaged 46 yards on four punts.

''[Hazley] is very confident and should be, he's been hitting the ball well,'' Beamer said. "I've got a lot of confidence in him. He's done it well over a long period of time -- last spring and this fall -- and he's been good.

''Saunders [has] been booming the ball, too, so the two guys who are going to be kicking for us have really looked good.''

Tech tidbits

Tailback Zac Evans is no longer in the program. Evans, a redshirt sophomore from Christiansburg, informed running backs coach Billy Hite before preseason practice opened that he was done. ''[Evans] decided he wasn't coming back,'' Hite said. "He decided to want to concentrate on his studies and get his degree. He's in architecture. He's been good for us. I've appreciated everything he's done for us.'' Evans joined the Hokies as a walk-on in 2008 and redshirted. He played a big role on the scout team last fall. He played six snaps and had one carry for 6 yards against Marshall last season, and played eight snaps on the kickoff-return team against Nebraska and Miami. ... Darren Evans appears ready to rumble. The tailback carried 12 times for 60 yards Saturday, including a 17-yard run in which he ran over one defender and slipped out of another's grasp. ... Redshirt freshman defensive end J.R. Collins continues to be disruptive. Collins, who is No. 2 behind Steven Friday at defensive end, had a session-high two tackles for loss, including a sack.