Just wrapped at the first practice availability of Wake Forest week. Here are some updates:
- Mike Norvell was happy with the day's work on the practice field. After the practice, he was asked about defensive tackle Dennis Briggs Jr., who was not dressed out for Saturday's win over Duke. Norvell said he expects Briggs to also miss this week's game after getting a little banged up but said he expects Briggs to be back at some point later in the season. He added that Briggs' absence creates opportunities for guys like Malcolm Ray and Daniel Lyons to rise to the occasion of a slightly increased role.
- During the opening 11-on-11 period, Keon Coleman hit an explosive down the field on an exceptional over-the-shoulder catch while Jackson West also had a chunk play on a seam route and a nice ball. Coleman also had a long touchdown against the scout team late in the practice and made a impressive grab on a ball above his head during 7-on-7 pass skelly.
- Norvell said at his Monday press conference that he saw a different bounce in Deuce Spann's step at practice Sunday night after his kick return touchdown Saturday vs. Duke. That certainly carried over into Tuesday's practice, where he was once again quite impactful. Spann had a catch early in the day where he fell down while turning on a route, but still managed to catch a ball thrown his way while on the ground and made quite a few other plays well. Should Johnny Wilson be unable to play this week, he's on the list of guys who could benefit.
- Defensively, there was a string of impactful plays during the middle 11-on-11 period. Renardo Green had a "sack" on the first play of the period, Fentrell Cypress had a stellar pass breakup while in coverage against Coleman and Kevin Knowles II had a PBU on a goal-line play in coverage against Kentron Poitier.
- In the trenches, Bless Harris and Jaylen Early continue to impress in 1-on-1 work. The pair of tackles regularly get Jared Verse or GIlber Edmond thrown at them and they win their fair share of reps and when they lose, it's still a competitive rep.
