Griffin, Skinner Named Freshman All-Americans
12/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 7, 2006
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Wake Forest's Jeff Griffin and Riley Skinner were named The Sporting News' Freshman All-America teams this week. Skinner was chosen to the second team and Griffin was a third-team pick.
Both players are Jacksonville, Fla., natives. Griffin is an offensive tackle out of Bartram Trail High School while Skinner is a quarterback who attended The Bolles School.
Griffin has seen action in 11 games this season and has drawn nine starting assignments. He entered the starting lineup after senior left tackle Arby Jones suffered an MCL injury during the Connecticut game. Pressed into extensive action, Griffin excelled. He has played 333 snaps, earning a season grade of 87 percent with 24 knockdowns and only one missed assignment.
Griffin's first career start came against Ole Miss. He played 38 snaps and posted a season-best 95 percent against the Rebels with three knockdown blocks. In the ACC Championship game, Griffin recorded a 93 percent against a talented Georgia Tech defense.
Skinner's success has been well-chronicled this year. The ACC's Rookie of the Year and second team all-league quarterback also moved into the lineup because of injury. Starter Benjamin Mauk suffered season-ending injuries in the opener against Syracuse.
Skinner is 10-2 as Wake Forest's quarterback and has been a major offensive key to Wake Forest's 11-2 overall record and top 15 national ranking (currently ranked #15 by the AP). Seven of Skinner's 10 wins as the starter have come away from Groves Stadium. Two of his wins have come against nationally-ranked opponents -- Boston College and Georgia Tech.
Skinner leads the ACC in passing efficiency (140.1), completion percentage (66.1) and interception rate (1 per 57 pass attempts). Skinner's interception rate ranks 9th nationally and his completion percentage ranks 13th nationally.
Skinner, 10-2 as as starter, is the only freshman quarterback nationally to have won 10 games as a starter this season. Texas' Colt McCoy has nine and Arkansas' Mitch Mustain has eight.
Skinner has completed 150 of 227 attempts (66.1 percent) for 1,780 yards, eight touchdowns and only four interceptions.
The Demon Deacons take on fifth-ranked Louisville in the 2007 FedEx Orange Bowl in Miami's Dolphin Stadium on Jan. 2.
