Joe Birdsong

Height:
6-4
Weight:
290
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Nashville, TN
High School:
Montgomery Bell

Birdsong Photo Gallery

2008 (Junior):
Started all 13 games at left tackle ... Was on the field for every offensive snap over the last six games of the season ... Has the ability to play on either the left or right side ... Missed the second half of the Navy game and most of the Miami game due to illness ... Was on the field for 832 offensive snaps, the second-most on the club ... Graded out at 82.6 percent on the season ... Led the Deacons with 91.5 knockdown blocks ... Had a season-high 14 knockdowns vs. Virginia (Nov. 8) and again vs. Navy in the EagleBank Bowl ... Also had 13 vs. Vanderbilt (Nov. 29) and 12.5 vs. Duke (Nov. 1) ... Was on the field for 84 plays vs. Clemson (Oct. 9) ... Also logged 78 snaps vs. Baylor (Aug. 28) and 76 at Florida State (Sept. 20) ... Top game was an 87 percent grade against Clemson and Ole Miss. 2007 (Sophomore):
Started six of the first nine games at right tackle ... Missed the final three regular season games while nursing an ankle injury ... Returned to action against Connecticut in the Meineke Car Care Bowl ... Graded out at 86.8% (third-best on the team) on 448 snaps ... Made 34 knockdown blocks on the season, fifth-best on the squad ... Season-high five knockdowns vs. Maryland (Sept. 22) and Navy (Oct. 20).

2006 (Redshirt Freshman):
Played 11 games in a reserve capacity at tackle and as a special teams contributor ... Played 168 snaps, approximately 20 percent of all offensive plays ... Saw his playing time increase when senior starter Arby Jones went down in week three with a sprained MCL ... Earned a season grade of 81 percent to go with 24 knockdowns ... Had a season-best performance against Liberty with 37 snaps, a 95 percent grade and 6.5 knockdowns ... Made the Dean's List.

2005 (True Freshman):
Redshirted the season.

Background:
Rated by Rivals.com as the 16th-best player in Tennessee ... Helped lead Montgomery Bell to state titles as a sophomore and junior and a semifinals appearance as a senior ... Helped Montgomery Bell to a No. 15 national ranking by USA Today. ... Was named second team AP All-State in all divisions as a senior ... Named first team all-state as a junior and senior in Division II-AAA ... Named by Prepstar to the All-Southeast team ... Totaled 137 pancake blocks in his career and never allowed a sack ... Benched 325, squatted 405 and had a vertical leap of 26 inches ... A two-year letterwinner in track.

Personal:
Majoring in communication with a minor in entrepreneurship and social enterprise ... Father, John, played football at Vanderbilt ... Chose Wake Forest for its small size, coaching staff and academics ... Coached at Montgomery Bell Academy by former NFL quarterback Jeff Rutledge ... Parents are John and Cynthia Birdsong ... Born March 18, 1987 ... Chose Wake Forest over offers from Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.