■ For all the attention being paid to the wealth of experience on Wake Forest's defense, some of the less-grizzled Deacons are making significant contributions. Coach Jim Grobe said that the play of the second team allowed the regulars to remain fresh through the end of last Saturday's 12-3 victory at Florida State.
The depth was especially valuable in the defensive front, where the 15th-ranked Deacons start seniors Matt Robinson and Anthony Davis at ends and fourth-year juniors Boo Robinson and John Russell at tackles.
Kyle Wilber, a 6-5, 230-pound redshirt freshman, has been impressive at defensive end. Sophomore Michael Carter and juniors Michael Lockett and Ted Randolph rotated at defensive tackles.
"One thing that helped us is we did play a lot of players," Grobe said. "I thought down the stretch in the fourth quarter our guys were flying around pretty good."
Grobe said he would have actually preferred to play the backups more, and would have if the Seminoles had managed more than 64 plays. Carter, Lockett and Randolph may get more snaps against Navy after Russell emerged from the FSU game with an injured shoulder.
Russell practiced this week but was limited. Although he said he plans to play, trainer Don Steelman said that it will be a game-time decision.
Linebacker Aaron Curry said he's not surprised to see the contributions from the second team.
"In summer camp and spring ball, the focus wasn't on the seniors," Curry said. "We've played plenty of snaps.
"So we told everybody on the two-deep, especially the freshmen, that ‘Our season is dependent on you all.' I told them ‘If you get five snaps, those five snaps have to be impact plays.'"
■ Through the first three games, offensive coordinator Steed Lobotzke has rotated freshman Joe Looney at guard with junior Barrett McMillin and sophomore Russell Nenon while junior center Trey Bailey and junior tackles Jeff Griffin and Joe Birdsong have played most of the way.
Grobe said that Dennis Godfrey, a redshirt freshman who was moved to guard from defensive tackle in August, may soon be ready to contribute.
"He's getting closer," Grobe said. "He stays out after practice with Lobo and asks a lot of good questions. I think Lobo's very encouraged....
"It's really hard to start out playing defense as long as he did, and all of a sudden you flip as late as we flipped him. The offensive line is not easy. It's really a tough place to play."
■ The most conspicuous absence in Wake Forest's first three games has probably been Jordan Williams, who was the only Deacon to play a year ago in his first season. Williams, a 6-3, 200-pound wide receiver, caught nine passes for 141 yards in seven games.
This season, Williams missed valuable preseason time with a pulled groin and dropped off the depth chart. He played briefly against Baylor, but did not play against Mississippi or Florida State.
Grobe said that Williams is healthy, so there are no plans to seek any medical waivers from the NCAA. With seniors D.J. Boldin and Chip Brinkman, sophomore Marshall Williams and redshirt freshman Devon Brown playing well, Grobe said that the challenge for Jordan Williams is to earn more playing time during practice.
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