QB Riley Skinner

2006 Statistics

Coach: Jim Grobe
37-35, 6 years
2006 Record: 11-3
SYRACUSE WON 20-10
DUKE WON 14-13
at Connecticut WON 24-13
at Mississippi WON 27-3
LIBERTY WON 34-14
CLEMSON LOST 17-27
at NC State WON 25-23
at North Carolina WON 24-17
BOSTON COLLEGE WON 21-14
at Florida State WON 30-0
VIRGINIA TECH LOST 6-27
at Maryland WON 38-24
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
vs. Georgia Tech WON 9-6
ORANGE BOWL
Louisville LOST 13-24
 

2006 Final Rankings
AP-18, Coaches-17, BCS-14

2007 Outlook

ACC Coach of the Year Jim Grobe finally broke through in his sixth year and set the school win record with 11 and gave them only their second league title ever. The big question is whether this was a one season fluke or truly the beginning of the Demon Deacons taking their program to the next level. The jury will be out until December on clearing up this issue due to the combination of their stacked talent on offense but vacated defense. See, it was through their defense that Wake rose to the top of the Atlantic division. Issues at end and safety will dictate most how well the defense rebounds from their major losses. It is amazing how well Grobe has developed the modest talent this smaller “big” school attracts – one can never discount any group that has come together as well as Wake Forest has. The defense will have to be tuned up right away with a trip to Boston to start the slate and then a home biggie against Nebraska the very next week. No Miami and no Virginia Tech make the rest of the schedule manageable – only FSU and (at) Clemson look like serious challengers. Skinner has a year under his belt and almost his entire offensive line back, so expect him and his cache of huge backs to carry the Demon Deacons to another banner season and back somewhere near the top of its division.


Projected 2007 record: 8-4
WAKE FOREST
*POWER RATINGS
Offense
Defense
QB - 4 DL - 3.5
RB - 4 LB - 3.5
WR - 2.5 DB - 2.5
OL - 4 ..
RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Riley Skinner, 171-260-5, 2051 yds., 9 TD

Rushing: Kenneth Moore, 105 att., 507 yds., 2 TD

Receiving: Kenneth Moore, 32 rec., 314 yds., 1 TD

Scoring: Sam Swank, 23-31 FG, 33-33 PAT, 102 pts.

Punting: Sam Swank, 70 punts, 41.2 avg.

Kicking: Sam Swank, 23-31 FG, 33-33 PAT, 102 pts.

Tackles: Aaron Curry, 83 tot., 52 solo

Sacks: Alphonso Smith, 4 sacks

Interceptions: Alphonso Smith, 3 for 23 yds.

Kickoff Returns: Kevin Marion, 22 ret., 22.3 avg., 0 TD

Punt Returns: Kenneth Moore, 10 ret., 13.0 avg., 0 TD

 

K/P Sam Swank
WAKE FOREST
OFFENSE - 9
----RETURNING STARTERS----
DEFENSE - 5
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Nate Morton-WR, Willie Idlette-WR, Steve Vallos-OT, Arby Jones-OT
DEFENSE: Jyles Tucker-DE, Jamil Smith-NG, Bryan Andrews-DE, Riley Swanson-CB, Patrick Ghee-SS, Josh Gattis-FS, Jon Abbate-MLB (NFL)
2007 OFFENSE

All-ACC QB Riley Skinner (also ACC Rookie of the Year) is the game manager that coach Jim Grobe needs for this ball-control offense. The Jacksonville-native can drop back and deliver when needed (WF passes about a third of the time), but as only a freshman he proved he can read defenses well and make the proper adjustments at the line of scrimmage through audibles and/or check-offs. What the offense lacks in flash, it makes up for in consistency. The Demon Deacon backs rotate with maximum effect. Senior Kenneth Moore gets the start at tailback due to his initial burst of speed and mobility. But De’Angelo Bryant and Kevin Harris are two big men who both move exceptionally well for their size and therefore garner nearly as many carries as Moore. Factor in oft-used junior fullback Rich Belton and you get a bruising backfield that will churn for even more yards thanks to Skinner becoming an even better passer to distract safeties. This will be important with the new faces at receiver. Senior Kevin Marion will be the only snarler with much experience for Skinner, and though recruiting efforts have not dripped with highly touted receivers, this program’s ability to make something worthwhile out of seemingly nothing means new faces will emerge on the outside. From the line, two senior tight ends who like to go downfield will also help establish the other snarlers. After the spring, Joe Birdsong looks like he’s ready to take over at left tackle. Otherwise, the entire starting line returns. Guys like first team all-ACC center Steve Justice guarantee improvements in both running and passing. Opponents should know what is coming with Wake’s basic run-first approach, but it doesn’t mean they can stop them.

 

C Steve Justice

 

WAKE FOREST 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Riley Skinner-So (6-1, 200) Brett Hodges-So (6-1, 180)
FB Rich Belton-Jr (6-1, 259) Mike Rinfrette-So (6-1, 259)
RB Micah Andrews-Sr (5-10, 212) Kevin Harris-So (6-1, 230)
De'Angelo Bryant-Sr (6-0, 239)
WR Kenneth Moore-Sr (6-0, 204) Chip Brinkman-Jr (6-1, 210)
WR Kevin Marion-Sr (5-10, 168) Demir Boldin-Jr (5-11, 220)
TE Zac Selmon-Sr (6-5, 250) John Tereshinski-Sr (6-3, 240)
OT Louis Frazier-Sr (6-4, 315) Joe Birdsong-So (6-4, 290)
OG Matthew Brim-Sr (6-4, 294) Barrett McMillin-So (6-3, 288)
C Steve Justice-Sr (6-4, 284) Trey Bailey-So (6-2, 289)
OG Chris DeGeare-Jr (6-4, 362) Gage Crews-So (6-4, 305)
OT Jeff Griffin-So (6-3, 298) Boomer Peterson-So (6-5, 303)
K Sam Swank-Jr (6-2, 206) ..

 

2007 DEFENSE

This side of the ball was how WF rose to the top of its division. But the No.25 run defense and No.12 scoring defense have to rebound from some major losses (line, secondary, MLB) before Wake can prove 2006 wasn’t just a one year fluke. Boo Robinson adds girth inside to bolster senior starter Zach Stukes, who plays more like an end due to his quickness. Robinson should have a breakout year as a sophomore, as should John Russell. Ends Jeremy Thompson and Anthony Davis are the lone building blocks outside for the line. The developments of junior outside linebackers Stanley Arnoux and Aaron Curry mean there will be little drop off from the corps. Eric Berry is the new starter in the middle. His size-speed combination is typical of the entire front seven, and his overachieving style works well with their gang-tackling mentality. Junior corners Kevin Patterson and Alphonso Smith will be one of the league’s best tandems. Smith was tied for first on the team in TFLs (8.5), third in sacks (four) as well as tied for third in INTs (three)…as just a reserve. Reserve Chip Vaughn is the lone safety with any significant real game reps, so coordinator and secondary coach Dean Hood has his work cut out if Wake is to again have a quality bend-but-don’t-break set of DBs. RS frosh Alex Frye will be a name soon to be known in the deep middle. Developments here will go a long way toward defining the DD’s season. This was one of only 16 defenses that had 30 or more takeaways, and it will again be predicated on an opportunistic approach that makes the whole of the stopping efforts worth much more than the sum of its parts.

 

LB Aaron Curry

 

WAKE FOREST 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Anthony Davis-Jr (6-5, 251) Antonio Wilson-Jr (6-1, 255)
NG Boo Robinson-So (6-2, 326) Michael Carter-Fr (6-3, 317)
DT Zach Stukes-Sr (6-2, 274) John Russell-So (6-3, 250)
DE Jeremy Thompson-Sr (6-5, 264) Matt Robinson-Sr (6-2, 248)
OLB Aaron Curry-Jr (6-3, 240) Mike Simmons-Jr (6-1, 219)
MLB Eric Berry-Jr (6-1, 288) Dominique Midgett-So (6-2, 242)
OLB Stanley Arnoux-Jr (6-1, 245) Chantz McClinic-Jr (5-10, 225)
CB Alphonso Smith-Jr (5-9, 191) Brandon Ghee-So (6-0, 182)
CB Kerry Major-Jr (5-11, 179) Channing Schofield-So (5-11, 193)
SS Kevin Patterson-Jr (5-10, 185) Aaron Mason-Sr (5-9, 199)
FS Chip Vaughn-Jr (6-2, 220) Alex Frye-Fr (6-3, 190)
P Sam Swank-Jr (6-2, 206) ..

 

 

2007 SPECIAL TEAMS

Though punter/kicker Sam Swank’s misses against Duke nearly kept WF from its ACC title, he was the hero against N.C. State with three conversions from 50+ that helped earn him all-conference status (at both positions). His efforts help Wake earn their top 10 status in net punting results. Marion (kicks) and Moore (punts) as return men will keep working well.