Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Football Inks 16 Prep Standouts on National Signing Day
2/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 4, 2004
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Click here for updated roster (as of Feb. 5) and signee bios
Five North Carolinians and 12 defensive players highlight the Wake Forest football 2004 signing class, announced today by head coach Jim Grobe. Grobe and his staff signed a total of 16 high school prospects to be Demon Deacons this fall.
"We're really pleased with this class that we've signed," Grobe said. "I think what I like the most about this class is the potential -- these recruits could really become outstanding football players during their time at Wake Forest."
The Deacs concentrated heavily on the defensive side of the ball, signing five linebackers, three defensive ends, two free safeties and two cornerbacks. Offensive signees included two wide receivers, one quarterback and a placekicker.
"Our emphasis on this year's recruiting class was defense, and I think we've taken care of our needs," Grobe said. "Without a doubt, we've helped ourselves up front -- signing some linemen and linebackers was key for us this year. But we've also done some really good things with the secondary.
"For the immediate future, I think we're in good shape offensively. We would have liked to bring in a running back, but we're so strong at that position right now, I think some kids were intimidated. We've added two strong wide receivers and a quarterback that has a lot of potential. I was somewhat disappointed that we didn't sign a couple of offensive linemen, but we didn't feel that was a pressing need at this time."
Wake Forest stayed close to home this recruiting season, bringing in five players (all defensive) from the state of North Carolina and an entire class that hails from the Southeast. The Deacon coaching staff also picked up five players from Florida and signed three from Georgia. Kentucky, South Carolina and Virginia are represented by one signee apiece.
"We feel really good about the North Carolina kids," Grobe said. "We love to take more and always work as hard as we can to bring the homegrown kids to Wake Forest."
Defensive end Jeremy Thompson is a highly-ranked recruit out of Charlotte Christian, while another end, Brandon Drumgoole, is a local product from Ragsdale HS in Greensboro. East Chapel Hill's Richard Belton and Fayetteville E.E. Smith's Aaron Curry bolster the Deacs' linebacker corps, while Wilmington linebacker Mike Causey is the latest in a recent line of E.A. Laney HS players to come to Wake Forest.
Another defensive standout comes from the neighboring state of South Carolina. Defensive end Anthony Davis, who hails from Columbia, S.C. (Spring Valley), is nationally-ranked at his position by several recruiting publications.
Included in the Sunshine State signees are three players from Pahokee who led their Pahokee HS team to the 2B state championship in 2003. Wide receiver Demir Boldin, cornerback Alphonso Smith and linebacker Antonio Wilson are all first-team all-state selections who played multiple positions and are multi-sport standouts for the Blue Devils. Boldin is the younger brother of the 2003 NFL Rookie of the Year, Anquan Boldin of the Arizona Cardinals.
Linebacker Stanley Arnoux is another highly-touted South Florida recruit from Glades Day. Arnoux recorded 125 tackles as a senior and was named the area's Defensive Player of the Year. The fifth Florida signee is kicker Sam Swank out of Jacksonville Beach Fletcher HS. Swank is an all-stater who handled punts, kickoffs and placekicking duties all four years of his prep career.
Once again, Wake Forest made its presence known in Georgia, signing a trio of all-state defensive backs from the Peach State. Free safety Kerry Major is a speedy all-purpose player out of Toccoa and Stephen County HS. Rome product Chantz McClinic is a three-sport star in football, basketball and lacrosse at the Darlington School who will also see action at free safety for WFU. Cornerback Kevin Patterson, out of Kingsland and Stephen County HS, adds depth in the Deacon defensive backfield after leading his team to the 5A state title in 2003.
Wake Forest added depth to the quarterback position by signing Allan Holland out of Hazard, Ky. (Perry County Central). Holland, who threw for more than 7,100 yards with a school-record 76 touchdowns during his high school career, will join junior Cory Randolph and redshirt freshman Ben Mauk at the position.
Fairfax, Va. prospect Chip Vaughn, considered one of the top 10 players in the state, is a nationally-ranked wide receiver out of Robinson Secondary. Vaughn also earned several accolades and put up impressive numbers at the defensive back position as well.
