Sports > October 9, 2008

By Martin Rickman | Staff writer

It is no secret that the Demon Deacons have had their struggles running the football this year. What is lost in all the talk about the offensive line has been the striking success of the Wake Forest receiving corps.

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(Graphic by Ryan Caldwell/Old Gold & Black)

Replacing Kenny Moore was no easy task — Moore set an ACC record with 98 receptions last year, had 44 carries and even took snaps under center — but this year’s group of Deacon receivers is easily the most talented in Head Coach Jim Grobe’s tenure.

“I think this year more than ever we have more playmakers on the receiving core, and coaches are starting to realize that we have a lot of guys that can play,” fifth-year senior wide receiver DJ Boldin said.

“The only problem is creating enough situations to get everyone the football.”

Boldin has had a wild ride in his time at Wake Forest.

A highly-touted freshman and brother of Florida State graduate and NFL star receiver Anquan Boldin, DJ had a lot to live up to.

By his own admission, Boldin did not immediately buy into Grobe’s red shirt policy, but he was still the Deacs’ second leading receiver with 15 catches in his sophomore year of 2005.

He let himself get somewhat out of shape and had some academic issues and became what Grobe calls “a knothead,” but during the Meineke Car Care Bowl against Connecticut in Charlotte last year, Boldin made a spectacular catch that helped the Deacs pull out the victory.

That catch seemed to bring Boldin back from college football purgatory and woke fans up to the fact that Deacs had a supremely talented receiver left to fill Moore’s shoes after he graduated.

Boldin became the leader the receivers desperately needed. He came into practices in August looking like a true No. 1 receiving threat and set the tone with his actions first and his words second.

“I think it bettered me as a person to sit back and watch and humble myself,” Boldin said earlier this season before the Baylor game. “Kenny and I are great friends so there wasn’t any jealousy; it was more of a brotherhood thing. Even though I played last year, I’ve had a lot of opportunities to read coverages, know different situations, which holes are available for catches and runs after the catch. I think I learned a tremendous deal as a student of the game last year.”

With 28 catches for 276 yards already this season, Boldin leads the team in catches and also leads the ACC in receptions per game with seven.

Fortunately for Boldin, and the Deacs, he has another leader lining up out wide as well. Fifth-year wide receiver Chip Brinkman has also seen his role increase dramatically with the graduation of Moore and Kevin Marion.

Brinkman, who had 27 catches last season, already has 12 catches this season, as well as his first two career touchdowns, both against Baylor.

“Personally I think I have the best hands,” Boldin said. “But if I was eliminated from that, I’d pick Chip Brinkman.”

Between Boldin and Brinkman, there is already as much firepower as the Deacons had last season, but they have other weapons at their disposal that makes this team much more multifaceted than last season’s squad.

Sophomore Marshall Williams is a supremely gifted player with a rare combination of speed and size, and he is third on the team with 148 yards and a touchdown. He will only see his role increase more as the season goes on.

The Deacs also have sophomore Devon Brown, who has been returning kicks and lining up in the slot. Brown could become Wake Forest’s next real burner, following in the footsteps of players like Marion and Willie Idlette.

“Last year Kenny Moore had his own package for when he was at quarterback. He had a lot of balls thrown to him and our offense was mainly based around him,” Brinkman said before the Ole Miss game. “Now, we have a diverse group of wide receivers where anyone of us can make plays. It really balances our offense out well.”

If the running game can start to get going, there is no telling the success that the receivers can have this year.

Junior quarterback Riley Skinner has already thrown 148 passes for 974 yards and six touchdowns through four games this season. He had 326 attempts all of last year for 2,204 yards and 12 touchdowns.

A successful running game will force defenses to rush more players on the defensive line and will allow the receivers to be in more 1-on-1 situations.

This, plus the ability to run play action, will give players like Boldin, Brinkman, Williams and Brown the chance to make the big play.

Wake Forest’s real season has started. The season thus far has been stopped and started with two bye weeks, but from here on out, the team will play eight games in eight weeks.

The Deacs’ ACC championship hopes are alive and well, but if their early success is any indication, the receivers will have a lot to do with how the Demon Deacons play the rest of the year.

Next up, the Deacons and their talented group of wideouts will travel to Maryland Oct. 18 for an ACC showdown.