2008 record: 8-5
Atlantic record: 4-4
Overall class ranking: 11, ACC; 61, overall
In-state recruits: 5
Average stars: 2.50
Five-star recruits: None
Four-star recruits: None
Class prize: Campanaro seems a perfect fit in the innovative Wake offense
Mike Farrell, analyst for rivals.com says:
"Jim Grobe is looking for kids who are willing to red shirt and wait their turn. Offensively, Grobe is a risk taker and he’s looking for players who can work in his system. This class looks like it will be at the bottom or 11th in the conference, but that’s Wake Forest. The Deacons have gone to a BCS bowl and played for an ACC championship within the last five years without having a class ranked higher than 10th in the league. Grobe clearly knows what he is doing.”
Wake Forest recruiting class with rivals.com rankings from five star to one star.
★★★ Whit Barnes* • Rocky Mount • 6-4 • 270
Shrine Bowl center chose Deacons over Duke, which also offered him. Is also long snapper. Tied as the leading vote-getter on the North Carolina All-State team as
selected by the Associated Press in 2008. Helped Rocky Mount to
the 3A state championship in 2008. The Grypons were 42-3 in his
final three varsity seasons . .Could
play a range of positions for the Deacons . Underwent off-season surgery after suffering a dislocated shoulder in
the Shrine Bowl .
★★★ Tommy Bohanon • Fort Myers, Fla. • 6-2 • 238
Committed to Deacons early and already is attending Wake Forest classes. Had 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns during his career.
★★ Devin Bolling • Lynchburg, Va. • 6-5 • 270
Bolling had 11 offers and ultimately chose Deacons over Virginia Tech.
Named first team all-state as a senior offensive tackle at Brookville
High in Lynchburg, VA .Also earned all-district and all-region
honors as a senior. Recorded 25 pancake blocks in 2008
★★★ Michael Campanaro • Clarksville, Md. • 5-10 • 173
Running back in high school, might change positions in college. Also had offer from UNC. Earned Washington Post All-Met Offensive Player of the Year honors as a
senior. Helped River Hill to consecutive 2-A state championships in
2007 and 2008. Ran for 1,848 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior while catching 17
passes for 266 yards and seven scores. Had 71 tackles and seven
picks as a senior. Selected for the Under Armour All-America game
following his senior year. Collected over 6,500 yards and 90
touchdowns during his three-year varsity career. Returned eight
kicks for touchdowns over the last three seasons .
★★ Steven Chase • Frederick, Md. • 6-7 • 270
Big offensive lineman has enrolled in Wake and will practice this spring.
★★★ Brendan Cross • Alpharetta, Ga. • 6-0 • 189
He's the son of former NFL player Randy Cross. Completed 162 of 232 passes for 1,658 yards, 16 touchdowns and just
seven interceptions as a senior. Rushed 145 times for 568 yards
and eight scores. Finished his career with 3,540 passing yards and
36 TD passes. Rushed for 1.356 yards and 16 scores
★★★ John Gallagher • Ponte Verda, Fla. • 6-4 • 252
One of a long line of Nease High players who have gone to Wake Forest. Extremely strong player, he turned down Illinois and Florida State. First team all-state Class 4A pick at defensive line as a senior.
As a defensive end, collected 106 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 20
sacks and caused nine fumbles as a senior
★★ Josh Harris • Duncanville, Texas • 5-10 • 190
Had trouble making up his mind. First committed to Wake Forest, then had change of heart and picked Louisiana Tech. Now it's the Deacons again. Suffered a torn ACL in April 2008 and did not play his first game as a
senior until Oct. 24. Rushed for 126
yards and a touchdown on nine carries in his first game back. Ran
a 10.93 at the District 8-5A track championship in 2007
★★★ Justin Jackson* • Rockingham • 6-1 • 212
Shrine Bowl player from Richmond Senior will need to continue to bulk up to play linebacker at the college level. Has 123 tackles as a junior and 191 tackles as a senior in leading the Raiders to the NCHSAA 4-AA state title.
★★★ Derald Jones • Jacksonville, Fla. • 5-10 • 152
Quarterback in high school, he could play defensive back or slot in college. Has already enrolled.
★★★ Duran Lowe • Plant City, Fla. • 5-11 • 214
He's got the potential to be a linebacker in college, if he can put on a few pounds. Is known for his aggressiveness. A three-year starter for coach Jason Strunk at Plant City High.
Saw action as both a
linebacker and running back as a senior . . . Lowe chose Wake Forest
over Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi State and South Florida. Forced four fumbles and had one interception as a
senior Missed several games in 2008 with an ankle injury.
★★★ Daniel Mack* • Miami, Fla. • 6-0 • 196
Mack had lots of interest in Clemson before choosing Wake Forest.
★★ Matt Muncy* • Tazewell, Va. • 6-4 • 215
Has the size to be an adequate receiver. Turned down offers from Ohio and Duke.
★★ Jimmy Newman* •Oxford, Ala. • 6-2 • 195
With the Sam Swank era over, maybe Newman can step in immediately. Was an all-state player at Oxford High.
★★ Mike Olson • Ashburn, Va. • 6-3 • 215
Played on a Stone Bridge High team that had four FBS recruits on defense's front seven.
★★ Chris Redding • Atlanta, 6-4 • 238
The Deacons picked Louisville's pocket for Redding, who played at Atlanta's Whitefield Academy. Redding had made a "soft" commitment to the Cardinals in December, but changed his mind over the weekend.
★★★ Quan Rucker* • Statesville, 6-0 • 182
West Iredell star was a captain on N.C. Shrine Bowl team. He's got great leadership skills. Caught 52 passes as a junior, but moved to quarterback for his senior season. Played safety in the Shrine Bowl.
★★★ Frank Souza • Ponte Vedra, Fla. • 6-4 • 285
Excellent at stopping the run, but also has talent as a pass rusher. Another Nease High recruit for Wake Forest.
Second team all-state Class 4A pick in Florida. Collected 86 tackles and 12 sacks as a senior
★★ Dominique Tate • Winston-Salem • 5-10 • 180
Carver High star had a 74-yard touchdown reception last season against Greensboro Dudley. Had 20 career interceptions, returning seven of them for touchdowns. Runs a 4.5 40 and chose the Deacons over Duke, Army, North Carolina,
NC State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech
★★★ Zach Thompson • Ashburn, Va. • 6-5 • 250
Patrick Thompson's twin brother also had injury problems as a senior, missing two games with a knee injury.
★★ Daniel Vogelsang* • Lexington, Ky. • 6-2 • 231
Needs to add some bulk, but has good hands and runs good routes. Chose Deacons over hometown Kentucky.
★★ Nikita Whitlock* • Wylie, Texas • 5-11 • 240
Was sometimes used at Wylie High at linebacker on goal-line situations. Was Texas' 5-A defensive player of the year.
