2007 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team

The 2007 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Jim Grobe in his seventh season at the school and played its home games at BB&T Field. The team began its season with an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) game on Saturday, September 1, 2007 against Boston College. Wake Forest played its first season since winning the 2006 ACC championship, their first in 36 years.[1]

2007 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
Meineke Car Care Bowl champion
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionAtlantic
2007 record9–4 (5–3 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorSteed Lobotzke (5th as OC, 7th overall season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorDean Hood (7th season)
Base defense4-3
Home stadiumBB&T Field
(c. 31,500, FieldTurf)
2007 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Atlantic Division
No. 10 Boston College x  6 –2     11 –3  
No. 21 Clemson  5 –3     9 –4  
Wake Forest  5 –3     9 –4  
Florida State  3 –5     7 –6  
Maryland  3 –5     6 –7  
NC State  3 –5     5 –7  
Coastal Division
No. 9 Virginia Tech x$  7 –1     11 –3  
Virginia  6 –2     9 –4  
Georgia Tech  4 –4     7 –6  
North Carolina  3 –5     4 –8  
Miami  2 –6     5 –7  
Duke  0 –8     1 –11  
Championship: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 16
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Preseason

Following the most successful season in team history in 2006, the 2007 team was not widely predicted to win the ACC despite returning many offensive starters from 2006.[1] Some sports writers stated that they believed 2006 to have been a fluke and that Wake Forest was not going to win as many games in 2007, especially because of the losses on defense, including the loss of linebacker Jon Abbate to the National Football League.[2] Wake Forest was picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic Division of the ACC in the annual preseason poll conducted by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. Lindy's was the only major preseason magazine to pick Wake Forest as a Top-25 team.[3]

Roster changes

Linebacker Eric Berry was ruled academically ineligible for the 2007 season.[4]
Mike Rinfrette moved from fullback to linebacker in spring practice.

Recruiting

On National Signing Day, Wake Forest signed 20 recruits in all, eleven defensive players and nine offensive players.

Award candidates
  • Steve Justice (C)- 2007 Lombardi Trophy Watch List;[5] 2007 Outland Trophy Watch List;[6] 2007 Rimington Trophy Watch List [7]
  • Zac Selmon (TE)- 2007 Wuerffel Trophy Nominee [8]
  • Riley Skinner (QB) 2007 Maxwell Award Watch List;[9] 2007 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List [10]
  • Sam Swank (P)- 2007 Ray Guy Award Watch List [11]

Roster

Bold indicates starter in last game

Quarterbacks

  • 6 Brett Hodges - Sophomore
  • 10 Zach MacDowall - Freshman
  • 11 Riley Skinner - Sophomore
  • 12 Skylar Jones - Freshman
  • 13 Ryan McManus - Junior

Running Backs

  • 3 Micah Andrews - Senior
  • 20 Lucas Caparelli - Freshman
  • 22 Brandon Pendergrass - Freshman
  • 23 Kevin Harris - Sophomore
  • 27 Josh Adams - Freshman
  • 34 Willie Dixon - Freshman
  • 49 Jose Domenach - Freshman

Wide Receivers

  • 4 Demir Boldin - Junior
  • 8 Marshall Williams - Freshman
  • 8 Geoff Wissing - Sophomore
  • 14 Kevin Marion - Senior
  • 15 Delon Lowe - Senior
  • 17 Christopher Langley - Sophomore
  • 21 Kenneth Moore - Senior
  • 22 CJ Washington - Freshman
  • 24 Trey Schmidt - Senior
  • 36 Casey Hill - Sophomore
  • 36 Nicholas Schulz - Freshman
  • 37 Max Opamuratawongse - Senior
  • 48 Anthony Williams - Sophomore
  • 80 Devon Brown - Freshman
  • 81 Danny Dembry - Freshman
  • 82 Jordan Williams - Freshman
  • 86 Matt Hartford - Sophomore
  • 88 Chip Brinkman - Junior

Fullbacks

  • 18 De'Angelo Bryant - Senior
  • 35 Rich Belton - Junior

Tight Ends

  • 83 Cameron Ford - Freshman
  • 84 Zac Selmon - Senior
  • 85 Ben Wooster - Sophomore
  • 87 Ted Randolph - Sophomore
  • 89 John Tereshinski - Senior
  

Offensive Linemen

  • 60 Mike White - Freshman
  • 61 Barrett McMillin - Sophomore
  • 62 Doug Weaver - Freshman
  • 64 Jeff Griffin - Sophomore
  • 65 Gage Crews - Sophomore
  • 67 Trey Bailey - Sophomore
  • 68 David Cox - Freshman
  • 70 Chris DeGeare - Junior
  • 71 Ryan Britt - Freshman
  • 72 Russell Nenon - Freshman
  • 73 Cannon Gaskin - Freshman
  • 74 Steve Justice - Senior
  • 75 Michael Hoag - Freshman
  • 76 Joe Birdsong - Sophomore
  • 77 Boomer Peterson - Sophomore
  • 78 Louis Frazier - Senior
  • 79 Matthew Brim - Senior

Linebackers

  • 28 Cyhl Quarles - Freshman
  • 35 Lee Malchow - Sophomore
  • 39 Chantz McClinic - Junior
  • 40 Kyle Jarrett - Freshman
  • 43 Stanley Arnoux - Junior
  • 44 Mike Rinfrette - Sophomore
  • 45 Mike Simmons - Junior
  • 46 Matt Woodlief - Freshman
  • 49 Michael Potteiger - Sophomore
  • 52 Dominique Midgett - Sophomore
  • 55 Tristan Dorty - Freshman
  • 56 Hunter Haynes - Freshman
  • 57 Gelo Orange - Freshman
  • 59 Aaron Curry - Junior
  • 63 Andrew Conroy - Junior
  • 66 Collin Granger - Freshman
  • 94 Tripp Russell - Freshman

Cornerbacks

  • 2 Alphonso Smith - Junior
  • 5 Marcus Williams - Freshman
  • 17 Brandon Ghee - Sophomore
  • 24 Channing Schofield - Sophomore
  • 25 Josh Bush - Freshman
  • 29 Kerry Major - Junior
  • 41 Mike Williams - Freshman
  

Safeties

  • 7 Alex Frye - Freshman
  • 9 Chip Vaughn - Junior
  • 10 Kevin Patterson - Junior
  • 25 Andrew Wright - Junior
  • 26 Jonathon Jones - Sophomore
  • 28 Peter Grimm - Freshman
  • 30 John Stamper - Freshman
  • 32 Aaron Mason - Senior
  • 37 Junior Petit-Jean - Freshman

Defensive Ends

  • 34 Antonio Wilson - Junior
  • 42 Matt Robinson - Senior
  • 90 Will Wright - Freshman
  • 93 Anthony Davis - Junior
  • 94 Tripp Russell - Freshman
  • 97 Kyle Wilber - Freshman
  • 98 Jeremy Thompson - Senior

Defensive Tackles

  • 50 Teddy Tomlin - Freshman
  • 51 John Russell - Sophomore
  • 58 Michael Carter - Freshman
  • 91 Dennis Godfrey - Freshman
  • 95 Zach Stukes - Senior
  • 96 Boo Robinson - Sophomore
  • 99 Michael Lockett - Sophomore

Place Kickers

  • 30 Shane Popham - Freshman
  • 38 Sam Swank - Junior
  • 40 Zach Collins - Freshman
  • 69 Win Joyner - Freshman

Punters

  • 38 Sam Swank - Junior

Long Snappers

  • 53 Greg Bechtel - Sophomore
  • 92 Nick Jarvis - Senior

Kick Returners

  • 2 Alphonso Smith - Junior
  • 14 Kevin Marion - Senior
  • 21 Kenneth Moore - Senior

Punt Returners

  • 21 Kenneth Moore - Senior
     
See also: American football positions and Glossary of American football

Personnel
Position Name First year at WFU
Head Coach Jim Grobe 2001
Wide Receivers Tim Billings 2006
Fullbacks / Tight ends Tom Elrod 2003
Defensive Ends Keith Henry 2001
Defensive coordinator / Secondary Dean Hood 2001
Linebackers Brad Lambert 2001
Offensive coordinator / Offensive line Steed Lobotzke 2001
Defensive tackles Ray McCartney 2001
Assistant Head Coach / Running backs / Kickers Billy Mitchell 2001
Quarterbacks Jeff Mullen 2001
Source: http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wake-m-footbl-mtt.html

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 13:30 pmat Boston College
ABCL 28–3842,292
September 812:00 pmNo. 17 Nebraska*
ESPNL 17–2032,483
September 153:30 pmArmy*
  • BB&T Field
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ACC SelectW 21–1032,142
September 223:30 pmMaryland
  • BB&T Field
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ESPNUW 31–24 OT31,964
October 61:00 pmat Duke
ACC SelectW 41–3620,134
October 117:30 pmNo. 21 Florida State
  • BB&T Field
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ESPNW 24–2132,906
October 201:00 pmat Navy*
CSTVW 44–2436,992
October 2712:00 pmNorth Carolina
  • BB&T Field
  • Winston-Salem, NC
LFSW 37–1033,023
November 312:00 pmat VirginiaNo. 21
LFSL 16–1760,106
November 1012:00 pmat No. 20 Clemson
ESPN2L 10–4482,422
November 174:00 pmNorth Carolina State
  • BB&T Field
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ESPNUW 38–1833,052
November 242:00 pmat Vanderbilt*
W 31–1727,650
December 291:00 pmvs. Connecticut*
ESPNW 24–1053,126

@ Boston College
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 14 7 0 7 28
Eagles 7 14 14 3 38

[12]

Nebraska
See also: 2007 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Cornhuskers 3 10 7 0 20
Demon Deacons 0 10 7 0 17

[13]

Army
1 2 3 4 Total
Black Knights 0 7 3 0 10
Demon Deacons 14 7 0 0 21

[14]

Maryland
1 2 3 4OT Total
Terrapins 10 7 7 00 24
Demon Deacons 3 0 7 147 31

[15]

@ Duke
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 7 17 10 7 41
Blue Devils 9 0 14 13 36

[16]

Florida State
See also: 2007 Florida State Seminoles football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Seminoles 0 14 0 7 21
Demon Deacons 0 7 7 10 24

[17]

@ Navy
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 14 13 10 7 44
Midshipmen 10 7 7 0 24

[18]

North Carolina
See also: 2007 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Tar Heels 0 3 0 7 10
Demon Deacons 10 7 6 14 37

[19]

@ Virginia
See also: 2007 Virginia Cavaliers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 3 3 7 3 16
Cavaliers 3 7 0 7 17

@ Clemson
See also: 2007 Clemson Tigers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 7 0 3 0 10
Tigers 10 17 10 7 44

[20]

North Carolina State
1 2 3 4 Total
Wolfpack 0 3 15 0 18
Demon Deacons 7 14 7 10 38

[21]

@ Vanderbilt
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 7 7 17 0 31
Commodores 3 0 0 14 17

[22]

vs. Connecticut
See also: 2007 Connecticut Huskies football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Huskies 7 3 0 0 10
Demon Deacons 0 0 14 10 24

[23]

Post Season

Conference
Kenneth Moore (WR)
Steve Justice (C)
Alphonso Smith (CB)
  • All-ACC Second Team
Josh Adams (RB)
Aaron Curry (LB)
  • All-ACC Honorable Mention
Chip Vaughn (S)
Sam Swank (K)
Kevin Marion (KR)[25]
  • Josh Adams (RB)- 2007 ACC Rookie of the Year and 2007 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year [26]
  • Matt Robinson (DE)- 2007 ACC Brian Piccolo Award [27]

National
2007 AFCA First Team All-American[29]
  • Louis Frazier (OT) - 2007 ESPN Academic All-American[30]

References
  1. "Wake Forest Wins First ACC Title Since 1970". Retrieved 2007-07-16.
  2. "2007 ACC football preview". Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  3. Wake Forest Picked To Finish Fourth In ACC Atlantic
  4. Eric Berry Ruled Academically Ineligible for 2007
  5. "Lombardi Trophy Watchlist". Archived from the original on 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  6. Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List
  7. "Rimington Trophy Watch List". Archived from the original on 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  8. "Wuerffel Trophy Nominees". Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  9. "Maxwell Award Watch List". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  10. "O'Brien Watch List". Archived from the original on 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  11. Ray Guy Award Watch List
  12. Boston College 38 Wake Forest 28
  13. Nebraska 20 Wake Forest 17
  14. Wake Forest 21 Army 10
  15. Wake Forest 31 Maryland 24
  16. Wake Forest 41 Duke 36
  17. Wake Forest 24 Florida State 21
  18. Wake Forest 44 Navy 24
  19. Wake Forest 37 North Carolina 10
  20. Clemson 44 Wake Forest 10
  21. Wake Forest 38 North Carolina State 18
  22. Wake Forest 31 Vanderbilt 17
  23. Wake Forest 24 Connecticut 10
  24. "Wake Forest's Steve Justice named Jacobs Blocking Trophy Recipient". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  25. "2007 All-ACC Football Teams Announced". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  26. "Wake Forest's Josh Adams Claims ACC Rookie of the Year Honors". Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  27. "Wake Forest's Matt Robinson Named ACC's Piccolo Award Winner". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  28. Justice Named Rimington Trophy Finalist
  29. "2007 AFCA Coaches' All-America Team". Archived from the original on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  30. Louis Frazier Named Academic All-America
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