College football

Wake poses double trouble for 'Noles defense

By Times Staff Writers Times Wires
Published October 6, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - Running back Chris Barclay is the best at what Wake Forest does best, so coach Bobby Bowden wants the senior to be the focal point of the FSU defensive effort.

"He's an outstanding running back, he's very durable not to be any bigger than he is," Bowden said of the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder. "This is the fourth year that he has played against us and he's a very dangerous back. He doesn't like to go down and he'll fight for yards; he's got good speed and good hands so he has just done an excellent job for the four years that he's been up there."

Barclay has 461 yards on 78 carries in four games this season. He sat out the season-opening loss to Vanderbilt due to suspension.

Wake Forest's ground attack is tops in the ACC thanks to Barclay and redshirt sophomore Micah Andrews, who leads the team with 489 rushing yards.

"It will be interesting to see who wins that (ground) battle," FSU defensive end Kamerion Wimbley said. "Of course, we like going up against guys that rush for a lot of yards. Now we are challenging ourselves this week by going up against these two great backs."

INJURIES: Bowden said defensive end Darrell Burston (shoulder) will be out for Saturday's game.

- D.C. REEVES, Times correspondent

GAINESVILLE - Quarterback Josh Portis may finally be holding on to the ball better.

Portis, who provides a change of pace when he gets in, has been kept out of games because of his tendency to fumble in practice.

Coach Urban Meyer said that is changing and Portis will play Saturday.

While Chris Leak is clearly a better passer than Portis, Meyer said Portis also is improving in that category.

"He's better now than he's ever been," Meyer said. "He's still not a polished passer."

Portis only has three completions on the season, but he's second on the team with 137 rushing yards.

Meyer doesn't want Portis to just come in to rush the ball, though.

"Our quarterback is more than running the option," Meyer said. "He's got to be able to be a balanced guy."

ZONE WOES: All it took was two plays.

Two long touchdown plays by Alabama and UF's secondary is suddenly in question.

"Up until this point, they were one of the best secondaries in the country," Meyer said. "A couple of great throws and a couple missed tackles, and now we're not a very good secondary."

The Gators were in zone coverage on both plays, even though Meyer described them as a man-coverage defense.

And both were because of mistakes by sophomore free safety Kyle Jackson. He left the middle of the field on the first touchdown, an 87-yard bomb to Tyrone Prothro, and he overpursued on the second one, a 7-yard quick slant that turned into a 65-yard touchdown because he was out of position.

ET CETERA: Meyer said he's counting on Jamalle Cornelius playing this weekend after missing part of the Alabama game and most of this week's practice with an ankle injury. Offensive linemen Mike Degory, Tavares Washington and Jim Tartt, who were banged up, should be all right to play this weekend, Meyer said.

- IAN FISHER, Times correspondent

TAMPA - The Bulls' bye week couldn't have come at a better time.

"They're tired," coach Jim Leavitt said. "We worked them real hard (Tuesday), and even though the sun wasn't out, it's still hot out here. We work now (during the bye week). Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. We work real hard."

Leavitt said the players are excited about the rest, although they probably would rather be playing.

"What football player wouldn't want some rest, right?" Leavitt said. "(It's nice) to take a day off or two. I'm sure they'd rather play, but I'm also pretty sure they'd like to chill out."

SURFING FOR PROSPECTS: Weather has been an issue for USF most of the fall practices, but rain wasn't part of the reason for starting Wednesday's practice an hour early.

"We had some coaches out recruiting," Leavitt said. "Had some planes to catch, you know?"

THIS AND THAT: Redshirt and walk-on players will participate today in a scrimmage called Bull Bowl.

- MIKE CAMUNAS, Times correspondent

CORAL GABLES - The Hurricanes are about to get more depth on both sides of the football.

Offensive lineman Derrick Morse - who has been out since the preseason with a shoulder injury - will be back for the Duke game and is expected to immediately be in the mix for a regular spot. Earlier, it was reported that safety Greg Threat, who has been sidelined by a thigh bruise, would likely return this weekend.

Meanwhile, cornerback Randy Phillips (knee) may miss up to four more weeks.

- TIMES WIRES

Starting quarterback Jimmie Russell, named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player of the week the past two weeks, could miss Saturday's game at Delaware State because of an undisclosed injury.

- TIMES WIRES

[Last modified October 6, 2005, 01:14:18]