Three Deacons Named to Senior Bowl
12/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 18, 2008
Mobile, AL - Saturday's EagleBank Bowl in Washington, D.C. won't be the final time a trio of Wake Forest defenders don their Demon Deacon helmets.
Linebacker Aaron Curry, defensive back Alphonso Smith and safety Chip Vaughn have all accepted invitations to play in the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 24 in Mobile's Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will kick off at 6pm (CT) and will be televised live by the NFL Network.
Both Curry and Smith have been projected as future first round NFL draft picks.
The 2008 Butkus Award winner, Curry was a first team All-ACC selection, second team AP All-American and second team Rivals.com All-American this year. The Fayetteville, North Carolina native leads the Demon Deacons in tackles with 101, including 63 solo stops and 15 tackles for a loss. Curry, who was also a finalist for the Lott Trophy, enters the EagleBank Bowl having recorded a tackle for a loss in seven straight games.
Smith heads to Mobile with an equally impressive résumé. The Pahokee, Florida native was recently tabbed a first team All-American by the Associated Press, Walter Camp and the Football Writers Association of America. He was also a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is given annually to the nation's best defensive player. A first team All-ACC selection for the second consecutive year, Smith has six interceptions on the season and is one shy of breaking the ACC career interceptions record of 20. He ranks second in the nation with 19 passes defended.
Vaughn ranks third on the Deacons' defense in tackles with 79 and pass break-ups with six. In 11 starts this season, he has two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. As a junior, Vaughn led the Demon Deacons with 100 tackles and was an Honorable Mention All-ACC selection.
"All three of these guys are outstanding football players who have played key roles in leading the Demon Deacons to the school's third straight bowl appearance," Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said. "They are all very much deserving of this invitation and I look forward to seeing them in person this Saturday against Navy in the EagleBank Bowl."
Tickets for the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket office (151 Dauphin Street), select Regions Bank locations, online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.
