| Marcus McGruder |
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2004
Started all 11 games at cornerback and broke the ACC record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown in a season... returned picks for scores against North Carolina A&T, NC State and North Carolina... had seven pass break-ups, to finish the year with 10 passes defended, ranking among the ACC leaders in that category... had 35 tackles including 28 solo stops and 1 tackle for loss.
2003
Finished eighth on the team with 54 total tackles, including 44 solo stops and one tackle-for-loss... also had an interception, a forced fumble and four pass break-ups... started every game... totaled four solo stops at Boston College... was third on the team with seven solo tackles in the victory over NC State... also had a tackle for loss and a PBU... recorded seven tackles, including five solo, against Purdue... had four solo tackles and his first interception since 2001 against ECU... had two solo stops at Virginia... recorded two solo stops and a PBU against Georgia Tech... contributed with five tackles and a PBU at Duke... made five solo stops at Florida State...
led all players with nine tackles and forced a fumble against Clemson... recorded three tackles at North Carolina... had four tackles and a PBU against UConn... recorded two solo stops versus Maryland.
2002
A returning starter whose role decreased over the course the season due to more competition in the Deacon secondary... saw action in all 13 games... a key contributor on special teams... finished the season with 31 tackles and two pass break-ups... started and tallied five tackles at Northern Illinois, including three solo stops... had his streak of 12 consecutive starts snapped against ECU in the second game of the season... totaled six tackles and a PBU against ECU in a reserve role... recorded one solo stop on the road against Purdue... credited with four tackles, including three solo stops, at Georgia Tech... recorded one solo tackle against Duke... collected four tackles against Clemson... credited with two tackles and a pass break-up against Florida State... credited with three tackles in the win over Navy... credited with four tackles at Maryland... tallied one tackle versus Oregon in the Seattle Bowl.
2001
One of two redshirt freshman to start all 11 games for the Deacons... named to The Sporting News Freshman All-America third team... also an All-ACC selection by the same publication... finished tied for ninth with 52 total tackles, including 39 solo stops... owned a team-high three interceptions... recorded three tackles-for-loss, two sacks and nine pass breakups... led the squad with nine special teams tackles... made an immediate impact in his first career start at ECU... recorded two sacks (-12 yards) and also grabbed his first career interception... was named ACC Rookie of the Week for that performance... posted six solo tackles and one pass deflection versus Appalachian State... recorded two tackles against Maryland... also picked off his second interception against the Terps... totaled two solo tackles and his third pass breakup of the season at FSU... had three solo tackles and one PBU versus NC State... recorded his third INT of the season at Duke... also recorded 12 tackles against the Blue Devils... recorded three tackles versus Clemson... totaled six tackles (four solo) and three PBU at Virginia... recorded six solo tackles and his ninth pass breakup at North Carolina... had seven total tackles, including one for loss, against Georgia Tech... had three solo tackles versus Northern Illinois.
2000
Redshirted the season as a true freshman.
Background
Came to Wake Forest after a standout prep career at North Atlanta HS... was a late signee to the Deacon program... coached at North Atlanta by Mike Walker... played both running back and defensive back for the Warriors in his career... was the team MVP... also ran on the track team as a sprinter... twice helped relay teams make it to the state championships... earned the Coach's Award in both football and track and field... attended Manchester (GA) HS as a freshman... chose Wake Forest for its "positive, classy atmosphere."
Personal
Majoring in History with a minor in Education... born February 26, 1982 in Atlanta, Ga.... son of Jimmy and Amelia Parks... has two brothers, Richard (24) and Terrance (14)... cousin, Derek Grier, played football at Marshall and spent eight years on the professional level in the NFL and CFL.
McGruder's Career Statistics
G-GS TT Int TFL PBU FF
2001 11-11 52 3/0 3/-13 9 0
2002 13-1 31 0/0 0/0 2 0
2003 12-12 54 1/35 1/-3 4 1
2004 11-11 35 3/68 1/-9 7 0
Career 47-35 171 7/103 5/-25 22 1
Tackles: 12 vs. Duke, 10/13/01
Solo Tackles: 7 vs. Duke, 10/13/01; vs. NC State, 9/6/03
Touchdowns: 1, three times
