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Demon Deacons special teams
6:00 AM Wed, Apr 22, 2009 | Permalink
Rick Gosselin E-mail News tips
Draft a defensive player from Wake Forest in 2009 and you get a bonus -- a special-teams contributor. Linebacker Aaron Curry, cornerback Alphonso Smith and safety Chip Vaughn began establishing their football identities as freshmen wearing redshirts on the practice field blocking kicks.
"That was one of the few times in practice when we could go all out," Vaughn said. "That was our chance to show the coaches we could play some ball. So every practice we'd block 2-3 punts, field goals and things like that. Then when we started playing, we took the same attitude and started blocking kicks that mattered. Our coaches always told us special teams were the first play on defense."
The three Wake defenders remained on special teams throughout their careers. Smith blocked five kicks and both Curry and Vaughn one apiece. Curry and Smith could both become first-round draft picks on Saturday and Vaughn projects as a mid-rounder.
6:00 AM Wed, Apr 22, 2009 | Permalink
Rick Gosselin E-mail News tips
Draft a defensive player from Wake Forest in 2009 and you get a bonus -- a special-teams contributor. Linebacker Aaron Curry, cornerback Alphonso Smith and safety Chip Vaughn began establishing their football identities as freshmen wearing redshirts on the practice field blocking kicks.
"That was one of the few times in practice when we could go all out," Vaughn said. "That was our chance to show the coaches we could play some ball. So every practice we'd block 2-3 punts, field goals and things like that. Then when we started playing, we took the same attitude and started blocking kicks that mattered. Our coaches always told us special teams were the first play on defense."
The three Wake defenders remained on special teams throughout their careers. Smith blocked five kicks and both Curry and Vaughn one apiece. Curry and Smith could both become first-round draft picks on Saturday and Vaughn projects as a mid-rounder.