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2003 PREVIEW: Wake Forest Demon Deacons

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Updated Jun 20, 2003 1:54 PM ET
     
 
For more previews, predictions and prognostications, go to the CollegeFootballNews.com.

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Can we now all give head coach Jim Grobe credit for being one of the top coaches in America? doesn't have the student body, the easy academic restrictions or the overall program that many others do, but Grobe has guided his team to two straight winning seasons and a bowl win last year. Normally a team like hits the skids after losing a ton of talent, but the program is going to reload after losing twelve starters. The new starters might not be as experienced, but they're more talented than most of the players they're replacing. With a little bit of luck, the Demon Deacons should be back in the bowl hunt again.

Team Information
Head coach: Jim Grobe
3rd year: 13-11
9th year overall: 46-44-1
Returning O Lettermen: 15
Returning D Lettermen: 21
Returning ST Lettermen: 3
Lettermen Lost: 16
Ten Best Players
1. OG , Sr.
2. WR , Jr.
3. LB , Jr.
4. FS , Sr.
5. RB Chris Barclay, Soph.
6. S , Jr.
7. LB , Sr.
8. OT , Sr.
9. OT , Soph.
10. LB Dion WIlliams, Sr.
2003 Schedule
8/30 at Boston Coll
9/6 NC State
9/13
9/20
9/27 at
10/11
10/18 at
10/25 at St
11/1
11/8 at No Carolina
11/15
11/29
So how does a team like this stop the wild inconsistencies? The Deacons had problems with , and lost to , but beat on the road, and Oregon. The key to the season will be finding a way to give the top ACC teams more of a push. Wake lost to , NC State and by a combined score of 98 to 48 and those three won't be any easier to face this season. The Schedule: For a team that needs the new starters to get their feet wet, it won't get much time starting off against , NC State and . isn't a pushover this year, and then the Demon Deacons get Virginia and . In all, the Terps play eight bowl teams. Best Offensive Player: Senior OG . He's 314 pounds and a devastating run blocker. For a team that likes to run the ball, he's the perfect player to for this offense. Best Defensive Player: Junior MLB . He took over in the middle last year and had a whale of a season leading the team with 94 tackles. He should be a the key cog in a solid run defense. Key player to a successful season: QB . A great runner and a decent overall quarterback, Randolph should become a top player with some experience. Can he replace the production of ? It won't be easy. The season will be a success if: gets to another bowl game. Grobe will have to coach his tail off again as the Deacons won't be sneaking up on anyone, but there's enough talent here to play in the post-season. Key game: Sept. 6 vs. NC State. Wake has to win its conference home games to have any hope of a bowl. The Wolfpack should be one of the ACC favorites and will be a great measuring stick for the young Deacons. 2002 Fun Stats:
  • Fourth quarter scoring: Opponents 72 - 44
  • Rushing yards per game: WFU 241.2 - Opponents 158.2
  • Fumbles: Opponents 38 (lost 21) - WFU 21 (lost 10)
    2003 Recruiting Class
    Star of the Class
    Micah Andrews RB 5-10 190 Duluth, Ga. Greater Atlanta Christian
    Finished his high school career with 6,429 yards and 67 touchdowns ... outstanding playmaker ... team captain ... rushed for 2,871 yards on 342 carries senior year, an average of 8.4 yards-per-rush and 191.4 yards-per-game ... scored 25 touchdowns in 2002 ? his 2,871 rushing yards in 2002 ranks as the third highest in the history of Georgia high school football, behind Daccus Thurman and Herschel Walker ... selected the 2002 2A Offensive Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ... named all-county, all-region and all-state senior year ... all-state selection junior year after rushing for 1,784 yards and 28 touchdowns ... also played cornerback on defense ... runs a 4.5 40-yard dash Jonathan Abbate LB 5-10 240 Powder Springs, Ga. Harrison HS
    Devin Blake CB 5-11 170 Jacksonville, Fla. First Coast HS
    Matt Brim OL 6-6 300 Belews Creek, N.C. Carver HS
    D'Angelo Bryant DB 6-2 215 New Ellenton, S.C. Silver Bluff HS
    *Johnny Edwards CB 5-11 180 Fayetteville, Ga. Starrs Mill HS
    Louis Frazier OL 6-4 300 Clearwater, Fla. Clearwater HS
    Bruce Hall QB 6-0 185 Milton, Fla. Milton HS
    Jeromy Jones DL 6-2 265 Marietta, Ga. Wheeler HS
    Steve Justice OL 6-4 275 Port Orange, Fla. New Smyrna Beach HS
    Delon Lowe WR 6-4 190 Fayetteville, N.C. E.E. Smith HS
    Kevin Marion WR 5-9 150 St. Petersburg, Fla. Dixie Hollins HS
    Aaron Mason WR 5-10 185 Lexington, Ky. Paul Lawrence Dunbar HS
    Ben Mauk QB 6-1 195 Kenton, Kenton HS
    Aaron McKenzie DL 6-2 290 Lakeland, Fla. George Jenkins HS
    *Kenneth Moore CB 5-11 170 Charlotte, N.C. Butler HS
    *Brodie Overstreet OL 6-6 275 Danville, Ky. Boyle County HS
    Matthew Robinson DE 6-3 230 Cedartown, Ga. Cedartown HS
    Zac Selmon TE 6-5 231 Norman, Okla. Norman HS
    Zachary Stukes DE 6-4 245 Marietta, Ga. Sprayberry HS
    John Tereshinski TE 6-5 205 Athens, Ga. Athens Academy
    Jyles Tucker DE 6-4 250 Dover, N.J. Morristown Beard HS/Hargrave Academy
    Travo Woods RB 5-10 170 Altamonte Springs, Fla. Lyman HS
    *Potential Instant Impact Players
    • Tagged: Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Wake Forest, Virginia, Maryland, Boston College, Purdue, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Oregon, Florida, Navy, Connecticut, East Carolina, Colorado State

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