Virginia Tech Hokies Add Michael Brewer to QB Race in 2014

The Virginia Tech Hokies are preparing for a wide open quarterback competition this offseason in order to replace long-time starter Logan Thomas. It’s the first time in several years that Frank Beamer hasn’t had a clear successor for the quarterback position, putting some major question marks over the Hokie offense for 2014. Now, that quarterback competition looks to get a little more complicated as Michael Brewer announced his intention to transfer to Blacksburg for next season.

Brewer was slated to be the starting quarterback for the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 2013 but suffered a back injury during the offseason which kept him out of the lineup for the first month of the season. By the time he returned to practice, the quarterback job was spoken for between freshmen Davis Webb and Baker Mayfield, pushing Brewer out of the picture in Lubbock. With Brewer set to graduate from Texas Tech in the spring, he’ll be eligible to play right away with two years of eligibility remaining.

He will step into a Virginia Tech quarterback race filled with contenders that lack a lot of experience. Many expect 2013 backup Mark Leal to step in and assume the No. 1 job in the spring as he has the most experience of any quarterback on the roster, though his appearance in relief of an injured Thomas in the Sun Bowl left much to be desired. Now, the VT coaching staff won’t be pressured into making a final decision on their quarterback for next season during the spring, particularly if Leal struggles to show a firm grasp on the offense.

The Hokies have high expectations for a bounce-back season in 2014 and finding the right quarterback to replace Thomas is a key piece of that plan. Will Brewer be able to find his way into the starting lineup or get stuck behind Leal on the depth chart?

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