Editor’s note: This is the fifth of an 11-part series looking around ACC football this spring
In college football, youth can be used as excuse for losing only to a certain extent, but Wake Forest’s Jim Grobe had a case in the 2010 season.
The Deacs finished 3-9 (1-7 ACC) with either freshmen or sophomores starting at 17 different positions by the end of the season.
The bright side of that is, besides a couple receivers, most everybody is back.
Defense is leading the way in returning starters (9) and scrimmages so far in Winston-Salem.
At one point last season, junior DE/OLB Kyle Wilber was running neck-and-neck with Da’Quan Bowers on tackles for loss and sacks.
On offense, true sophomore Tanner Price is fighting to keep his job this spring after starting nine games last season.
More on the Demon Deacons…
Wake Forest
Returning Starters by Position
Offense (7)
QB: 1 (9 career starts)
RB: N/A
TE: 1 (9 career starts)
WR: 1 (13 career starts)
O-line: 4 (64 career starts)
Defense (9)
D-line: 3 (49 career starts)
LB: 2 (25 career starts)
DB: 4 (45 career starts)
Kicker/Punter (0)
PK: 1 (22 career starts)
P: N/A.
Outgoing Starters: 7
2010 Record: 3-9 (1-7 ACC)
Offensive Leader: WR Chris Givens – He leads the Wake wide receiver corps with 80 receptions in his career for 1,143 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Defensive Leader: OLB Kyle Wilber – The Deacs lineman turned linebacker finished 5th in the ACC in tackles for loss with 14.5 and 5th in sacks with six last year. He’s third in the ACC in career tackles for loss among those coming back this season.
Key Issues This Spring: 1) Late defensive change – Just before spring practice, Wake defensive coordinator Brad Lambert left to become head coach of the upstart Charlotte 49ers. Demon Deacons coach Jim Grobe promoted Jim Knorr and Steve Russ to co-defensive coordinator status. Coaches and players will have to work through different play-callers.
2) QB competition – Sophomore Tanner Price showed the most promise last year with 56.8 completion percentage for 1,349 yards and 7 touchdowns. One Wake QB has transferred in Skylar Jones, but Ted Stachitas and Brendan Cross are still there to compete this spring.
3) Moving out of the triple-digit rankings – The Deacs finished 108th in total offense and 101st in total defense in 2010.
More Around ACC Spring Football
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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