Trey Bailey realized early in his career that he wasn't going to displace Steve Justice as Wake Forest's starting center.
So profound was Bailey's respect for Justice, a first-team All-America, that he came up with a nickname.
"He was Superman," Bailey said. "That's what I called him, Superman."
So instead of beating Justice out, he simply waited him out.
Last Sunday Justice made his first start (at left guard) for the Indianapolis Colts. A rookie, Justice was drafted in the sixth round last June.
The day before, in Tallahassee, Bailey made his third start in the Deacons' 12-3 victory against Florida State. The long wait for Bailey, who as a redshirt junior is in his fourth year, is finally over.
"It was tough being patient behind Steve, just wanting to get in there and play," Bailey said. "But I learned from the best of the best. I can't complain about that.
"He taught me a lot. I try to mark my game after him now."
As good as Justice was at Wake Forest, where he made first-team All-ACC his junior and senior seasons, Coach Jim Grobe didn't lay awake at night wondering how he was going to replace him. Grobe said repeatedly last season that Bailey was good enough to start for most college programs.
Bailey heard the words of encouragement. But he also heard fans and those in the media speculate that Justice's departure would be a blow to the offense.
"I knew it was coming," Bailey said. "I'm never going to measure up to him, but I'm going to do what I can to be exactly like him.
"It was a little motivation when people said that. I understand that it's my time now. I've got to step up to the plate and I'm going for the home-run swing every game, just trying to be the best that I can.' "
Bailey is undersized for an ACC lineman, just as Justice was. Bailey is 6-2 and weighs around 290 pounds. Justice is taller, at 6-4, but weighed 284 pounds as a senior.
The Deacons' offensive line, as a whole, is lighter than those on most ACC teams.
"I like that weight because I can still be mobile and get around pulling and get up to my blocks on linebackers," Bailey said. "My second spring here I hit 300 (pounds). I just wanted to see how it was. But I felt too bloated and I couldn't move.
"I like keeping my weight down."
The drawback is that a lighter body is apt to offer less resistance to the pounding all linemen take. Justice played through one injury after another during his three seasons as a starter.
Grobe said that Bailey can expect to do the same.
"Trey is always banged up," Grobe said. "He's a wreck, a physical wreck. But he's a tough guy and he appreciates his turn. He's finding a way to persevere and get through it.
"He's a little undersized, and undersized linemen usually get beat up pretty good. But he's playing good and he's playing tough. We just feel that as long as he's healthy and going, we're fine at center."
■ Dan Collins can be reached at 727-7323 or at dcollins@wsjournal.com.
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