Deacons must find new QB

Things are different around Wake Forest football this year.

Quarterback Riley Skinner, the most prolific passer in school history, is gone after throwing 60 touchdown passes.

So is the streak of three straight bowl appearances, ended by a 5-7 season that was marked by a series of near and frustrating misses.

The Deacons lost their opener last season to Baylor on a late flea-flicker.

Going in for the winning touchdown in overtime at Boston College, Skinner lost a fumble.

There was a three-point loss at Navy in a rainstorm, a one-point loss to Miami - which scored with just over one minute to play - and a three-point overtime loss at Georgia Tech.

What could have been.

And what comes next?

1. With Skinner gone, who will the Deacons turn to as their next quarterback?

That's the most significant question hanging over the Deacons as they begin preseason workouts, and, at this point, there's no clear answer.

The battle is among three players - junior Skylar Jones, sophomore Ted Stachitas and redshirt freshman Brendan Cross - and they have one thing in common: None of them has thrown a pass in a college game.

Jones was tabbed the No.1 quarterback coming out of the spring, in part because he was the only one of the three to play in every spring scrimmage. Skylar is more of a runner than Skinner, and he's able to use his speed to force defenses to account for him carrying the ball.

Stachitas is considered the best passer in the group, closer to the Skinner model, while Cross is a combination of Jones and Stachitas.

The good news is whichever quarterback starts, he'll have quality receivers - Devon Brown, Marshall Williams and Chris Givens.

However, as practice begins, two words describe the quarterback battle: Wide open.

2. Grobe has said that he wants to see Wake Forest become more reliant on its running game than in recent seasons. Is that realistic?

Grobe's teams have traditionally been built around strong running games, but that equation shifted under Skinner because of his passing ability.

This season, it's likely the Deacons will get back to the running game, particularly if senior Josh Adams can return to his freshman-year form.

Adams was ACC offensive freshman of the year in 2007 when he rushed for 953 yards, but he had arthroscopic knee surgery before the 2008 season and he hasn't been as effective. Adams gained 943 rushing yards the past two seasons.

Junior Brandon Pendergrass is a solid backup, and remember the name Josh Harris. The redshirt freshman didn't participate in spring drills, but he may have the best combination of speed and power of any of the Wake Forest running backs.

3. The Deacons' defense thrived on takeaways until last season when they ranked 111th nationally with only 15. Can this season's defense be better?

It's a unit without a star. The Aaron Currys and Alphonso Smiths are long gone, but that doesn't mean there's no talent.

Defensive back Kenny Okoro emerged as the best player in a solid secondary last season.

The linebackers may not be familiar, but it's a position rich in potential. Brothers Hunter and Riley Haynes figure to be big contributors along with Joey Ehrmann and Scott Betros.

Grobe has said this may be the fastest defense he's had at Wake Forest, a skill that always comes in handy.