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
Meineke Car Care Bowl, W 24–10 vs. Connecticut
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division	Atlantic Division
Record	9–4 (5–3 ACC)
Head coach	Jim Grobe (7th season)
Offensive coordinator	Steed Lobotzke (5th season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Dean Hood (7th season)
Base defense	4–3
Captain	Game captains
Home stadium	BB&T Field
Seasons ← 2006 2008 →

2007 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings

v t e	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		4	–	4					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 (FL)		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

Coaching staff

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

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	3:30 pm	at Boston College		Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA	ABC	L 28–38	42,292
September 8	12:00 pm	No. 17 Nebraska*		BB&T Field Winston-Salem, NC	ESPN	L 17–20	32,483
September 15	3:30 pm	Army*		BB&T Field Winston-Salem, NC	ACC Select	W 21–10	32,142
September 22	3:30 pm	Maryland		BB&T Field Winston-Salem, NC	ESPNU	W 31–24 OT	31,964
October 6	1:00 pm	at Duke		Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC (rivalry)	ACC Select	W 41–36	20,134
October 11	7:30 pm	No. 21 Florida State		BB&T Field Winston-Salem, NC	ESPN	W 24–21	32,906
October 20	1:00 pm	at Navy*		Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	CSTV	W 44–24	36,992
October 27	12:00 pm	North Carolina		BB&T Field Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry)	LFS	W 37–10	33,023
November 3	12:00 pm	at Virginia	No. 21	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	LFS	L 16–17	60,106
November 10	12:00 pm	at No. 20 Clemson		Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC	ESPN2	L 10–44	82,422
November 17	4:00 pm	NC State		BB&T Field Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry)	ESPNU	W 38–18	33,052
November 24	2:00 pm	at Vanderbilt*		Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN		W 31–17	27,650
December 29	1:00 pm	vs. Connecticut*		Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NC (Meineke Car Care Bowl)	ESPN	W 24–10	53,126
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

@ 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	4	OT	Total
Terrapins	10	7	7	0	0	24
Demon Deacons	3	0	7	14	7	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]

NC 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]

Postseason honors

Conference

• Steve Justice (C)- 2007 Jacobs Blocking Trophy^[24]
• All-ACC First Team

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

• Steve Justice (C) - 2007 Rimington Trophy Finalist^[28]

2007 AFCA First Team All-American^[29]

• Louis Frazier (OT) - 2007 ESPN Academic All-American^[30]