Wake Forest could be without leading returning rusher Josh Harris this season because of academic issues.
Coach Jim Grobe said Monday from the ACC Kickoff that he didn't know whether Harris would be eligible to participate when fall practice opens Aug. 2. Grobe said Harris didn't make grades at the end of the spring semester, and now he is awaiting word from the NCAA on Harris' eligibility.
As for when he would have an answer, Grobe said, "Stay tuned."
Harris led the Deacs with 608 yards and five touchdowns last season and was penciled in to start once again. Wake Forest has struggled to run the ball consistently over the past several seasons, and last year was no exception as Wake Forest ranked No. 113 in the nation. Coaches pushed Harris to improve his work habits this past offseason, hoping he could take the next step and be more effective.
Now, the entire running back position is up in the air. Deandre Martin would be next in line, but Grobe says the entire group has a lot of growing up to do. Grobe also said he's still searching for the guy who can be the next Chris Barclay, somebody who can handle the lion's share of the load without any doubts from the coaching staff.
"We've got some guys that aren't showing a lot of maturity right now as far as the workout habits, the classroom habits," Grobe said. "That running back group is probably the biggest disaster we've got right now. We don't have a dependable guy right now. We'll see how it sorts out. We've got a guy in Deandre Martin that could be that guy. He's physically capable of being that guy. But he's got to show us a little bit more resolve off the field to have confidence with him on the field."
