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Grobe says he is still mulling over redshirt decisions
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Published: August 21, 2008
Wake Forest will leave for its first game, against Baylor, in less than a week and as of yesterday Coach Jim Grobe was still trying to figure out who will be on the plane.
The big question is how many freshmen who haven't redshirted will have seats. At various times during the preseason, Grobe has mentioned the possibility of four or five playing this season.
In Grobe's seven seasons, nine freshmen played their first seasons at Wake Forest. Four of those nine enrolled in January and had the benefit of spring scrimmage.
"That's still to be determined," Grobe said. "We've not made any hard, fast decisions....
"The biggest question is at tight end right now, whether we can get by with what we've got or whether we need to throw (Andrew) Parker into the mix.
"It wouldn't surprise me if we end up with a few on the trip (such as) Parker possibly. Kenny Okoro has done some good things on the corner. Terence Davis is done some good things at receiver.
"But obviously if we can (get by) we don't want to play them."
Grobe didn't mention guard Joe Looney for a reason. Grobe has said that he views those freshmen who arrive in time for spring semester -- as Looney did last January -- differently than those who first enroll in summer school.
Given the concern of depth on the offensive line, as well as Looney's ability, he is almost certain to join Eric King, Chris Barclay, Ryan Plackemeier, Chris Davis, Jyles Tucker, De'Angelo Bryant, Jeremy Thompson, Chris DeGeare and Jordan Williams on the list of those played first season at Wake Forest.
Either center Garrick Williams and/or center Chance Raines, both of whom enrolled last spring, could also contend for playing time. Tight end J.T. Dixon also enrolled in January, but had back surgery last week and will definitely be redshirted this season.
The Deacons had their fifth and final two-a-day session yesterday, and Grobe said that the major focus of the final week is to keep everybody healthy for the Aug. 28 opener at Baylor.
Grobe must be feeling good about his team. As of yesterday he planned to give the Deacons this Sunday off, even though the NCAA doesn't require a day of rest until the start of the regular season.
"I don't think we're going to (practice Sunday)," Grobe said. "I'm not a big Sunday guy. We can, and we thought that would be the best to just keep a game-week schedule. But I don't know how much we need to go on Sunday.
"I'd rather have the kids having a chance to go to church and relax and get their feet up under them a little bit....
"I think the best thing we can do is make sure our guys are fresh and ready to go physically when we go to Baylor."
Quarterback Riley Skinner and receiver Jordan William were back in practice yesterday after missing Tuesday's scrimmage. Skinner was sidelined by a sore hamstring, and Williams with a pulled groin.
■ Dan Collins can be reached at 727-7323 or at dcollins@wsjournal.com.
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