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Wake Forest receives two football commitments
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Published: July 3, 2008
By Mason Linker
JOURNAL REPORTER
Tommy Bohanon, a tackle-busting fullback from Florida, and Whit Barnes, a rangy offensive lineman from Rocky Mount, have committed to play football at Wake Forest.
Bohanon, a 6-2, 240-pounder at North Fort Myers (Fla.) High, will graduate in December and enroll at Wake Forest in January 2009, said James Landoli, his high-school coach. Barnes, a 6-4, 275-pound center, is also a talented long-snapper, said Coach B.W. Holt of Rocky Mount.
Bohanon plays major roles for North Fort Myers as a middle linebacker and fullback, and his role on defense limited his play on offense, Landoli said. Last fall, when North Fort Myers reached the Class 5-A semifinals, Bohanon rushed for more than 700 yards, scored seven touchdowns and averaged 5 yards a carry.
Landoli, who expressed surprise that Bohanon didn't receive wider recruiting attention, said that Central Florida, Florida Atlantic, Louisville and Michigan State also offered scholarships. Landoli compared Bohanon with Owen Schmitt, a standout fullback at West Virginia who was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in April.
"He broke two helmets last year," Landoli said of Bohanon. "He is a quarter-inch shy of 6-2. Maybe I am a little biased because he is my kid, and not being a college recruiter myself, are there a ton of Tommy Bohanon's out there? I don't know.
"No. 1 the kid is not stupid, he could graduate right now — he needs one English course. Initially we used him more as a defensive player. But Tommy is the old throwback Nebraska fullback. He is extremely quick, and he reminds me of an (Mike) Alstott. He is very flexible in his hips and has good vision for a guy his size. He will get you the tough yards, and you better be careful. He can squirt through there and make things happen."
Landoli said that Bohanon is also a standout baseball player but that he would not play baseball in college.
"He just loves football, and that's what he wants to play," Landoli said. "Not to put the carriage before the horse, but I think a lot of people missed the boat on him. His speed is 4.8 (seconds over 40 yards) which in the college realm is really good for a big guy but not fast enough for a middle linebacker. But it doesn't account for his quickness. He is a different kid when he has a football in his arms rather than tackling the guy with the football."
Rocky Mount's Holt — formerly a longtime coach at Starmount — said that Barnes had several college scholarship offers, but decided on Wake Forest after also considering Duke and Western Kentucky.
Holt said that Barnes is sure to long-snap and also will be a position player at Wake Forest. Barnes played center as a sophomore in 2006, started at tackle last fall and will be moved back to center this season, Holt said.
"He finishes his blocks, a great finisher," Holt said. "He will be downfield, and he will get on somebody and stay on them, his feet have improved a great deal, and he is a strong kid. We have been able to, the last two years, set all the rushing records here behind the offensive line he has been involved with.
"He is a smart kid, over a 4.0 (grade-point average) and a 1,200 SAT. He is a great fit for Wake Forest. They are doing a great job and that staff has been together, and they are winning all the time. And they aren't beating the sisters of the poor.
"He is going to get big. He could be 300 pounds before it's over with."
Barnes, who said he also had offers from Elon and Western Carolina, said he visited the Wake Forest campus and that he and his parents liked it. He also said the Wing-T offense he plays in at Rocky Mount has similarities to the offense Wake Forest runs.
"It was a good situation, and Wake is where I wanted to go," Barnes said. "The people, all around, I liked all of them. Coach (Jim) Grobe seems like he will stay, hopefully."
n Mason Linker can be reached at 727-7324 or at mlinker@wsjournal.com.
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