Six Deacons Earn All-ACC Recognition
11/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 30, 2009
Wake Forest senior defensive tackle John Russell was named second team All-ACC on Monday. Russell was the only Demon Deacon to make the first or second team.
Five players received honorable mention honors including quarterback Riley Skinner, wide receiver Marshall Williams, offensive tackle Chris DeGeare, offensive guard Jeff Griffin and cornerback Kenny Okoro.
Russell is fifth on the Wake Forest team with 46 tackles. He led the team and ranks ninth in the ACC in sacks with 4.5. Russell had a season-high nine tackles at Georgia Tech on Nov. 7.
Skinner, a senior, received honorable mention for the second consecutive year after being named second team quarterback as a freshman in 2006. This fall, Skinner set school records with 3,160 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes. He became Wake Forest's all-time passing leader with 9,762 yards in his career. Skinner finished his season ranked fourth in the ACC in passing yards per game (263.3), total offense yards per game (268.0) and second in passing efficiency (147.8 rating).
Williams, a redshirt junior, is the ACC's fourth-leading receiver with 60 receptions. He ranks third in receiving yards per game with 72.2. Williams had 100 or more receiving yards in three games this season including a career-best 180 yards vs. Boston College on Sept. 26.
DeGeare started all 12 games at left tackle as a senior. He led the offensive line in knockdown blocks three times and graded out at better than 90 percent in games against Miami and Florida State. DeGeare was a Freshman All-America during his rookie season in 2005 and was also a member of the ACC All-Freshman team by the Sporting News.
Griffin also started all 12 games as a senior, split between right tackle and right guard. His top games included grading out at 98 percent against Miami and Boston College and at 90 percent against Maryland and Clemson. Griffin had a season-high nine knockdown blocks against Navy on Oct. 24.
Okoro was not only an honorable mention selection at corner but also received votes for Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year. Okoro recorded 38 tackles on the season and led Wake Forest with three interceptions and 11 pass breakups. His three interceptions are the second-most ever by a Deacon redshirt freshman.
