Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Spring Football Preview
3/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 26, 2002
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -
The Wake Forest spring football game will take place at Groves Stadium on Saturday, April 6th, at 3:00 p.m. Admission is free for all spectators.
All head coach Jim Grobe and his staff did in their first season at Wake Forest last year was produce one of the best turnarounds in school history.
The Demon Deacons improved from 2-9 in 2000 to 6-5 in 2001. The winning record, which made Wake bowl-eligible, was just the second Deacon winning mark since 1992.
The only negative about last season, if there is such a thing, is that Wake Forest won??t sneak up on anyone in 2002. Not after winning four of five games on the road and playing in nine games decided by seven points or less. In three of Wake??s five losses, the Deacons had the ball with good field position with a chance to go ahead or to even the score late in the game.
Wake Forest was ultimately denied a postseason bowl berth, but the groundwork was laid for perhaps even more success in 2002.
??If anybody had told the Wake Forest fans that we were going to start out with a winning season, and at least be bowl-eligible, I think they would have jumped at it,?? Grobe said. ??We want to keep our players focused on getting better and realizing that the winning season did not come easily.
??That??s the thing I??m most concerned about -- that we don??t get caught up in everything that happened last year to the point that we just expect it to happen this year. It??s important that we get better. I don??t remember any games that were easy last year.??
The Demon Deacons return 16 starters including the entire defensive secondary, every running back and quarterback and a corps of talented receivers.
Wake??s losses, however, are significant. The Deacons must replace three talented senior starters on the offensive line, second team All-ACC defensive end Nate Bolling, all-purpose back and receiver John Stone, steady inside linebacker Marquis Hopkins and placekicker Tyler Ashe.
??Replacing Nate is a big question mark,?? Grobe said. ??We just can??t replace him. It??s impossible. But hopefully we??ll find a couple of kids who can step in, so we can keep them fresh.??
The biggest gap to fill will come on the offensive line. Gone are Michael Collins, a first team All-ACC guard who is expected to be a high NFL Draft pick, center Vince Azzolina, honorable mention All-ACC, Michael Moosbrugger and Seth Houk.
Despite the losses, there is plenty of optimism in the Wake Forest camp. Returning is senior running back Tarence Williams, who averaged more than 100 yards per game and was a second team All-ACC selection in 2001. Senior quarterback James MacPherson, who has passed for more than 2,800 yards, will be back under center.
??James MacPherson won some huge games,?? Grobe said. ??That??s the bottom line for a quarterback. It??s not stats. It??s not flash. It??s not numbers. It??s W??s.
??He proved he can win against good competition in hostile places. He??s our quarterback right now. We??re going to try to find somebody to beat him out, but we??re going to do that at every position.??
On defense, senior Calvin Pace, one of the all-time sack leaders in school history, returns to anchor the defensive line at end. Junior Quintin Williams, at free safety, is the leader of a youthful but experienced secondary.
The 12-game 2002 schedule will be an extremely challenging one for the Deacons. Wake opens the season on the road for the second straight year, this time at Northern Illinois (Aug. 29). Wake??s next two non-conference games come against East Carolina (Sept. 7) and on the road aganst Purdue (Sept. 21). The Deacs?? final non-conference tilt is Nov. 23 versus Navy.
The demading six-game home schedule includes: East Carolina (Sept. 7), Virginia (Sept. 28), Duke (Oct. 12), North Carolina (Oct. 26), Florida State (Nov. 2) and Navy (Nov. 23).
"I feel good about the schedule,?? Grobe said. ??My biggest concern was achieving balance between home and away and I think we did that. We play some away games early, but that's not necessarily bad.
??I think we have a good home schedule. We have some very good teams coming into Winston-Salem, and I think our players and coaches are excited about the challenge."
Quarterback
MacPherson grew more comfortable and confident late in the season last year, guiding Wake to come-from-behind victories at Virginia and at North Carolina. MacPherson completed 113-of-209 passes (54.1 percent) for 1,555 yards and five touchdowns. If he can cut down on the interceptions (11 last season), he could be one of the ACC??s top QBs.
MacPherson will be pushed by redshirt freshman Cory Randolph. When MacPherson and Anthony Young were both hurting with injuries last season, the redshirt nearly came off of Randolph, who has the skills to be a great option quarterback.
Running Back
With a trio of talented tailbacks, Wake Forest may be as deep at running back as any team in the ACC.
Any talk concerning the Deacons?? ground game, however, must begin with senior Tarence Williams. The 5-10, 198-pound speedster rushed for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games last season. He ranks among Wake??s all-time leaders in a number of categories including career rushing yardage (1,729), rushing touchdowns (17), 100-yard games (nine) and more. He was named the team??s Most Valuable Player last season in a vote by his teammates.
Williams has plenty of help. Junior Fred Staton rushed for 583 yards and seven touchdowns last season and junior Nick Burney added 139 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior Ovie Mughelli, one of the ACC??s premier blocking backs, is back at fullback and he will also see time at tight end.
Receiver/Tight End
Wake Forest will miss the speed and versatility of John Stone, but the Deacons return a host of talented receivers.
Sophomore Jason Anderson led Wake last season as a freshman in receptions (28) and receiving yards (472). He also has gained a reputation early in his career for making big plays.
Senior Fabian Davis (24 catches for 306 yards) has Stone-like speed. Senior Jax Landfried, a former walk-on, emerged last year as one of Wake??s most dependable receivers. Two redshirt freshmen -- Maurice Moten and Derek Tharpe -- could compete for starting jobs right out of the gate.
The wild card is junior Anthony Young, who moves to receiver after playing quarterback in 2000 and 2001.
??We recruited Anthony as a wide receiver,?? Grobe said. ??Losing John Stone and Ira Williams, we needed help at wide receiver.??
Senior Ray Thomas, who became one of MacPherson??s favorite targets down the stretch, caught 20 passes for 241 yards.
Offensive Line
While Wake Forest will miss a very talented group of interior linemen, the Deacons aren??t without talent and depth on the offensive line. Thanks in great part to Grobe and offensive coordinator Troy Calhoun, who used a 10-man rotation system on the O-line last season, some of the younger linemen received valuable experience.
Leading the list of returnees are junior Tyson Clabo (6-6, 307), senior Blake Henry (6-6, 301) and senior tackle Tim Bennett (6-4, 285). That trio combined for 20 starts last season.
Junior Mark Moroz (6-4, 270), who moved from tight end to tackle last fall, has great potential. Senior David Walters (6-3, 290) started twice in 2001. The least experienced starter will likely be sophomore center Blake Lingruen (6-4, 275) or redshirt freshman Craig Jones (6-1, 280).
Defensive Line
Wake Forest will miss end Nate Bolling, a second team All-ACC selection and a vocal leader for the Deacons. Finding someone to emerge at his position will be key in 2002.
Back is senior end Calvin Pace, also a second team All-ACC selection and one of Wake??s all-time sack leaders. At nosetackle, senior Montique Sharpe, a starter in all 11 games last season, was a key to Wake??s success in 2001. He??ll be backed-up by talented redshirt freshman Goryal Scales, who played in two games last year before suffering a knee injury.
Other candidates along the defensive line are senior end Roderick Stephen, who had 17 tackles last season, and sophomore Joe Salsich, who emerged as a solid nosetackle reserve. Sophomore R.D. Montgomery will compete for time at end.
Linebacker
Will Wake Forest go with the standard four linebackers, or will the Deacons use just three linebackers to go with a nickel package like they did most of last season? The answer to that question could depend on the maturity of a couple of young linebackers.
Back is junior inside linebacker Kellen Brantley, who recorded 100 tackles and led the team with three interceptions in 2001. Brantley has the skills to be an all-conference performer.
The other inside linebacker could be senior Jamie Scott, a converted running back who developed into a dependable reserve last season. Junior Dion Williams was also a solid reserve last season before suffering an injury that kept him out of Wake??s final eight games.
Sophomore Mike Hamlar returns the most experience at outside linebacker. Hamlar started the first four games last season. Sophomore Tyrek White, another converted running back, saw most of his action on special teams. Junior Jamaal Argrow hopes to have his first injury-free season.
Defensive Secondary
Wake Forest??s secondary is relatively young, yet they are one of the Deacons?? most experienced groups.
Wake used a nickel package, comprised of four freshmen and a sophomore, in the final six games of the season. All five players are back in 2002.
The elder statesman of the group is junior cornerback Obi Chukwumah, who had 53 tackles and two pass break-ups last year. Sophomore Quintin Williams ranked fourth on the team last season with 72 tackles and he paced the team with 11 pass break-ups.
Sophomore Caron Bracy started the final six games of the season as the Deacons used a nickel package. Bracy??s position was officially listed as safety, although he took on some outside linebacker responsibilities.
Sophomores Eric King and Marcus McGruder, both 5-9, are small but extremely quick. The duo holds down the starting jobs at cornerback. Juniors Ricky Perez and Drew Dayton and sophomore Warren Braxton give the Deacs depth in the secondary.
Specialists
It will be difficult for Wake Forest to replace steady Tyler Ashe at placekicker. Ashe was 11-of-14 on field goal attempts and 33-of-34 on PATs last season. Freshman Chris Strappel and sophomore Matt Wisnosky are the top candidates.
The Deacons used three punters in 2001 and Grobe is hoping someone will emerge as a dependable starter. Junior Chris Rolle punted the most (33 attempts), but James MacPherson had the higher average (42.4). Sophomores Andrew Shelton and Matt Wisnosky will push Rolle for the starting job.
Stone, one of the ACC??s all-time kick return leaders is gone. But senior Fabian Davis, who returned 10 kicks for an average of 23.2 yards per return, is back in the fold.
Davis is likely serve as Wake??s punt returner as well.
Recruiting Class
Wake Forest signed 20 high school seniors to letters of intent, including its first Parade All-American since 1984. Bryan Andrews, a 6-6, 225-pound linebacker from Lima, Ohio, is the headliner in a strong recruiting class.
??I like this class,?? Grobe said. ??These players really stand out, character-wise. I enjoyed getting to know them and I think they??ll not only be really fine football players, but they??ll fit in well at Wake Forest.??
Impressive Ground Game
Wake Forest closed out the 2001 season as the ACC's top rushing team, gaining an average of 221.6 yards on the ground per game. BCS-bound Maryland ranked second with 220.7 yards an outing.
The blossoming ground game was a new dimension for the WFU offense in 2001, as the Deacons averaged over 200 yards rushing for the season only three other times since 1951. Last season's average is the highest since Wake Forest set a school record for season rushing average in 1971 with 304.0 yards per game. Wake's 2,438 total rushing yards ranked as the third best season total in school history.
Anderson Leads Receivers
Redshirt freshman Jason Anderson certainly lived up to his preseason billing as a player who could make an immediate impact on the Deacon squad. One of just two redshirt freshmen to start every game last season, Anderson tallied a team-high 28 catches for 472 yards in 2001. He became the first freshman (true or redshirt) to lead the Deacons in receiving since Mike Mullen in 1978. Mullen had a team-best 22 catches for 307 yards that season.
Anderson broke the freshman single season record in receiving yardage, and finished three catches shy of breaking the freshman reception record, set by Jammie Deese (30) in 1996. Anderson is also one of only two Deacons to have recorded a catch in 10 of 11 games last season.
Not only did Anderson catch a lot of passes, he made the big plays at key moments. His first career touchdown, a 42-yard catch in the fourth quarter against Maryland, brought the Deacons to within seven points of the Terps. Against Virginia he caught a 45-yarder from Fabian Davis which set up a late-game touchdown, then scored on a 64-yard reception for the game-winning TD.
Williams: 1,729 Career Yds.
Then-junior running back Tarence Williams needed just 15 yards entering the Maryland contest on Sept. 22 to break the 1,000 career rushing yards plateau. He reached that milestone in the second quarter and finished the day with exactly 100 yards.
He became the 30th player in Wake Forest history to earn 1,000 career yards, and he currently ranks 11th among Wake's all-time rushing leaders with 1,729 career yards.
Williams also posted 1,000 yards for the season when he tallied 140 yards against Northern Illinois in the season finale. Williams is just the eighth player at WFU to record a 1,000-yard season as his 1,018 yards this year tied as the sixth-best season total in school history.
Williams finished the year ranked second in the ACC and 45th nationally with 101.8 rushing yards per game. That figure was also good enough to rank seventh in the league in all-purpose yardage. His 36 carries against ECU tied for sixth place on Wake's single-game rushing attempts chart and was also the top single-game mark in the ACC last season.
