Outlook For Wake Forest Football In 2009

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

To be completely blunt, Wake Forest football looks to be heading for a rebuilding season.  Anything on top of that is gravy.

Wake might be in a lot of shoot outs this year, because only four starters are returning on the defense. 

Three of them, Kyle Wilber, John Russell, and Boo Robinson, are on the defensive line.  Cornerback Brandon Ghee is the only returning starter behind them.

Even with the departures of Aaron Curry and Stanley Arnoux, Jim Grobe is optimistic about his linebacking group. He's calling it the deepest group he's ever had.  Matt Woodlief and Hunter Haynes could lead the Deacons defense, but you can't really know too much about a defense with four returning starters.

Led by senior Riley Skinner, the offense looks good. 

While he doesn't have the strongest arm in the world, Skinner is very accurate and will benefit from his experience. 

Chris Givens and Marshall Davis need to step in at wide receiver and take advantage of Skinner's experience for the offense to be as successful as it is capable of.  Both of Wake's starting wide receivers are gone, so the wide receiver position is much like the defense, inexperienced.

The rushing game is a bright spot of Wake's, with Josh Adams and Brandon Pendergrass leading the way.  If Adams can stay healthy, the two could form a dynamic duo that could help Wake stay in most games.

I think Wake should also get their backup quarterback, sophomore Skylar Jones, some experience seeing as he will most likely be the starter next year.  Rumor has it he can run a 4.4 40.  Maybe we can put in a wildcat formation every now and then, and have him be a Pat White/Ronnie Brown type player some this year.

It will be fun to see this young team on the field, but I wouldn't go into the season expecting too much.  They definitely have the potential to do well, and I would love to see them do well. With so many inexperienced starters, can we really expect too much?

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