Wake Forest Athletics
Spring Football Practice Begins Monday
2/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 27, 2004
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Despite the recent wintry weather, spring football camp opens for Wake Forest on Monday, March 1. Originally scheduled to begin on Saturday, Feb. 28, the start of spring drills will be delayed a couple of days due to a snowstorm that hit the area Thursday night.
The Demon Deacons will conduct 15 practice sessions over the next five weeks, culminating with a final scrimmage on Saturday, April 3 at Groves Stadium. This Saturday's postponed practice will be made up at another date to be announced.
A total of 76 players are on WFU's spring roster, including 44 returning letterwinners and 17 starters. The Deacs bring back seven starters on offense, including second-team All-ACC running back Chris Barclay, prolific wide receiver Jason Anderson, and freshman All-Americans Willie Idlette (WR) and Steve Vallos (OG). Eight starters return on defense, led by the 2003 team MVP and All-ACC first-teamer Eric King at cornerback. The team's top two tacklers the last two years, LB/DB Caron Bracy and MLB Brad White also return for their senior seasons. Another first-team All-ACC pick, punter Ryan Plackemeier, is back as well in 2004.
This spring should provide plenty of competition among positions, as 20 young players from last year's redshirt-freshman class now jump into the mix, including record-setting quarterback Ben Mauk, highly-touted linebacker Jon Abbate, and Winston-Salem product Matt Brim on the offensive line. Wake welcomes just one newcomer to the roster this spring, as defensive lineman Eric Gaskins, from Durham, N.C., enrolled at WFU in January following a season at Hargrave Military Academy.
Wake Forest enters spring practice relatively healthy. Just three players -- tight end Dan Callahan (broken leg), defensive end John Finklea (torn Achilles tendon) and linebacker Chris Owen (ACL) -- will sit out the spring season. Callahan and Owen's injuries occurred during last football season, while Finklea suffered his injury during winter conditioning drills. Dominic Anderson, who fractured his leg in last year's season opener at Boston College, has recovered and is expected to participate this spring. Anderson will also return to his original position of strong safety after moving to running back last spring.
The Demon Deacons open the 2004 campaign Sept. 4 at Clemson -- the first conference matchup of the season.
Monday's practice runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the campus practice field. For other practice dates and times, contact the Media Relations office at 336-758-5640.
