Defensive Analysis

The defense has the potential to be the best ever under head coach Jim Grobe. There are enough good players up front to move to a 4-3 lineup while also going back to the 3-3-5 from time to time. More than anything else, there's far more depth and athleticism than Wake Forest has ever had and several excellent prospects waiting to shine.

Star of the defense: Senior CB Eric King
Player that has to step up and become a star: Sophomore safeties Josh Gattis and Patrick Ghee
Unsung star on the rise: Ghee
Best pro prospect: Senior DE Jerome Nichols
Top three all-star candidates: 1) King, 2) LB Caron Bracy, 3) LB Brad White
Strength of the defense: Outside linebacker and defensive end
Weakness of the defense: Tackle depth

Defensive Line

Projected Starters
- Defensive end Jerome Nichols, Sr. - The 273-pound end became a good all-around lineman last year leading the team in tackles for loss with 11 while also making 33 tackles and breaking up six passes with two interceptions. He's a great athlete who'll be one of the leaders of the line.
- Nose tackle Goryal Scales, Jr. - A bowling ball of a player at 6-0 and 283 pounds, Scales will stay as a nose tackle no matter what the alignment the Demon Deacons use. He had problems staying healthy last year only making 16 tackles.
- Defensive tackle Cory Stukes, Jr. - An active player on the inside, Stukes is a disruptive player making 19 tackles last year with four for loss. He's not the biggest tackle on the roster using his quickness to make plays.
- Defensive end Matthew Robinson, RFr. - Robinson took over this spring and made a claim to the job on the right side when Jyles Tucker missed time with his concussion problem. The 226-pound pass rusher was going to be used last year but he was limited with a shoulder problem.

Top Backups
- DE John Finklea, Soph. - All set to become the dominant player on the line, the 6-5, 273-pound Finklea hasn't been able to catch much of a break. He was hurt for most of last year and then tore his Achilles tendon this winter. Assuming he comes back at 100%, he could quickly take over one of the end jobs.
- DE Jamil Smith. Soph. - Smith will push hard for time behind Jerome Nichols on the left end. At 6-3 and 281 pounds, he has tackle size playing a little bit on the nose last year, but he'll be more of a factor on the outside.
- DE Jyles Tucker, Soph. - Tucker will most likely take back his starting spot from Matt Robinson by the start of the season. This spring Tucker was dinged up with a concussion missing some time. He turned in a solid true freshman season making 17 tackles and breaking up two passes.

The Skinny: How good is the defensive line compared to past years? There's enough depth and talent for the coaching staff to finally be confident enough to use a 4-3 alignment to go along with the normal 3-3-5. There aren't any devastating pass rushers, but there are several big linemen that'll hold their own against the run.
Player to keep an eye on: Jamil Smith ... Defensive Line Rating: 7

Linebackers

Projected Starters
- Caron Bracy, Sr. - The former safety moves over to outside linebacker where he'll be able to use his tackling ability and instincts to make plays closer to the line. The now-strongside playmaker has 211 career tackles with seven broken up passes for his career. He should blow past the 100 tackle mark in his new spot.
- Pierre Easley, Soph. - Moved to the middle this spring, Easley should grow into a top tackler after having a strong redshirt freshman season making 12 stops as a reserve. He's a good sized player who'll be good enough to be the focal point that everyone else works around.
- Brad White, Sr. - The former Georgia Bulldog will move to the outside after starting in the middle last year where he made 78 tackles. He's a good on and off the field as an ACC All-Academic performer and consistent enough to make 172 career tackles starting all 25 games of his Wake Forest career.

Top Backups
- John Abbate, RFr. - After missing spring ball last year with a hand problem, he wasn't able to have the season expected of him. He's a nice prospect who should be one of the main backups on the outside.
- Jason Pratt, Jr. - Pratt made ten tackles last year, mostly on special teams, after missing the first two games with a hand problem. He has the potential to be a decent reserve on the weakside behind Brad White with a little more time.
- Napoleon Sykes, Soph. - The former defensive back moved over to linebacker this spring where he looked like a potential factor playing behind Pierre Easley in the middle. He has a good nose for the ball and is a solid tackler.
- James Adams, Soph. - One of the rising stars of the linebacking corps, the 223-pound Adams will push Caron Bracy on the strongside. A hamstring injury kept him down last year, and now he's ready to become one of the key players in the rotation.

The Skinny: It'll be interesting to see how this works out. Several safeties beefed up to become inexperienced, but athletic, linebackers. Caron Bracy and Brad White will be excellent on the outside while there are several excellent prospects waiting in the wings. This will be a better group by the end of the year.
Player to keep an eye on: James Adams ... Linebacker Rating: 6.5

Secondary

Projected Starters
- Cornerback Eric King, Sr. - King turned in an All-ACC season turning into a fantastic all-around corner making 59 tackles with three interceptions and breaking up 15 passes. He leads the team with 32 straight starts and remains the hardest worker in the secondary.
- Strong safety Patrick Ghee, Soph. - A reserve all of last year, the 6-2, 204-pound sophomore is ready to become a top playmaker taking over the starting strong safety job this spring. He made 17 tackles as both a backup safety and on special teams last year showing signs of being a huge hitter.
- Free safety Josh Gattis, Soph. - Gattis made 34 tackles last year as a solid reserve behind Quintin Williams and a good special teams player. He's a good tackler with decent enough range to be a decent pass defender combining with Warren Braxton for the free safety job.
- Cornerback Marcus McGruder, Jr. - McGruder isn't the most talented corner in the world, but he always finds a way to stay on the field and always makes plays. Now he's experienced enough to hold down one of the starting corner jobs with 137 career tackles and 15 broken up passes.

Top Backups
- CB Aaron Mason, RFr. - Mason is a good all-around athlete pushing incumbent starter Eric King hard for one spot. He's a good pass defender and should grow into a strong player being groomed behind King.
- FS Warren Braxton, Sr. - Braxton might as well be labeled a starter with 23 starts over the last two years making 127 tackles and four interceptions. He'll combine with Josh Gattis at free safety after moving over from the strong safety. He's a good hitter always forcing turnovers and making big plays, but he isn't quite the overall athlete that Gattis is.
- SS Dominic Anderson, Jr. - The former running back moves over to strong safety where he made 20 tackles as a reserve in 2002. He missed lost of last year with a knee injury and now will combine with Patrick Ghee at strong safety. He looked stronger than ever this spring.
- CB Riley Swanson, Soph. - Swanson might take over for Marcus McGruder very soon at one corner after making 41 tackles last year with an interception. He's a better athlete and has more all-around potential than McGruder, but he doesn't have the experience.

The Skinny: The pass defense was a nightmare last season giving up almost 280 yards per game and 22 touchdowns. Part of the problem was a lack of a pass rush to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but there were problems with the pass coverage as well. The secondary might be younger, but it's far more athletic and deeper with several great athletes working around All-ACC star Eric King.
Player to keep an eye on: Patrick Ghee ... Secondary Rating: 6.5

Special Teams
- Placekicker Matt Wisnosky, Jr. - A reliable kicker with a big leg, Wisnosky still doesn't have a firm hold on the job with freshman Sam Swank entering the picture this fall. He hit three of five field goals last year and connected on 25 of 27 extra points before giving way to Ryan Plackemeier.
- Punter Ryan Plackemeier, Jr. - The 6-4, 246-pound junior has a monster leg and is one of the best punters in the ACC averaging 45.6 yards per kick putting 11 inside the 20. He can also kick field goals hitting five of seven last year an all 16 of his extra points.

The Skinny: Willie Idlette is a serviceable but not elite kick returner. In one way or another the placekicking game will be great, while Ryan Plackemeier will be one of the nation's best punters.
Special Teams Rating: 8

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