Ben Sankey Class: Senior Hometown: Chicago High School: Whitney Young High School Height / Weight: 6-3 / 209 Position: Quarterback Birthdate: 12/05/1976 Experience: 3VL

Wake Forest's number-one quarterback coming out of spring drills … certainly is qualified for that high-profile position after serving as the top backup to the school's all-time passing leader Brian Kuklick the past three seasons … had seen some on-the-field and practice duty during that time with the first-string offense, but worked mostly in a reserve capacity … that, of course, all changed this past spring as he stepped confidently into the starting spot and guided the Demon Deacons with an assertive manner … has always been a recognized leader and did nothing to diminish that aspect of his personality during the offseason … an excellent all-around athlete, possessing quickness, strength and durability … also has a strong throwing arm (he's right-handed) and can pass effectively from the pocket or on the move … gives the offense some flexibility with his athleticism and ability to run the ball … has been clocked at 4.5 in the 40 … spent his first year (1995) at WFU on the redshirt list … has gone 3-0 in the annual Spring Game the past three years … now hopes to build a winning streak this fall.

1998: Appeared in five games and did a very good job in most instances … played in opener at Air Force, completing two of four passes for 36 yards with an interception … gained 26 yards that day on the ground on two carries … made a brief appearance versus North Carolina, then was effective in fourth-quarter duty the following week against Virginia … completed 10 of 17 passes for 144 yards that day, including a 61-yard completion to William Merritt that set up a three-yard TD toss to Merritt again … actually threw for 100 yards (5-6) in that touchdown drive which included a couple of Deacon penalties … on the field for a couple of possessions versus Florida State, completing four of eight passes for 29 yards … finished the schedule on an exceptional note at Georgia Tech … completed 22 of 29 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns … all three scores that day -- a 43-yarder to Desmond Clark and a pair of two-yard tosses to Ira Williams -- came in the fourth quarter … also gained 50 yards on nine rushing attempts versus the Yellow Jackets … keyed by that performance, he completed an impressive 65.5 percent of his passes for the year.

1997: Saw action in six games, including the last two as a starter … a perfect three-for-three passing in opener versus Northwestern for 35 yards, but saw that possession end with a fumble (his own) … played briefly at North Carolina and Duke then saw significant minutes the final three games after starter Kuklick was lost for the year with a broken leg … completed 13-of-22 passes for 148 yards against Clemson and scored on a 16-yard run … equally effective the following Saturday in his first career start at Rutgers, connecting on 14 of 20 passes for 158 yards … scored on a one-yard dive and on a two-point conversion run as well … also recorded a 43-yard gain on a pass to Desmond Clark -- the longest pass play all season for the Deacons … experienced a difficult season finale at Florida State, though, while under tremendous pressure from the Seminole defense … threw for 251 yards (21-of-41) but was intercepted five times and sacked on 11 plays … did combine with Clark on a 25-yard TD pass for the only WFU scoring that day.

1996: Played in five games … made his inaugural appearance as a Deac at Georgia Tech where he threw for 40 yards (3-of-5) while gaining 16 yards on the ground (3 carries) … best statistical outing came versus Virginia when he completed six of 11 passes for 97 yards while on the field for two possessions … capped one drive with a two-yard TD pass to Desmond Clark … encountered a roadblock to his progress when he suffered a broken left wrist at Maryland … missed the Navy game but did return to action for two offensive possessions against Florida State.

BACKGROUND: A three-sport prep star at Whitney Young High … named all-state, all-conference and all-city in 1994 while throwing for 21 touchdowns and 1,700-plus yards under coach Tim Franken … completed 62 percent of his passes while being intercepted only one time during regular season competition … guided Whitney Young into state playoffs and a final record of 9-2 … first earned the starting QB position as a sophomore, then went on to be chosen as team MVP as a junior and senior … also a standout basketball performer, ranking as the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder after lettering four years in a row … an all-conference selection in baseball, too, and owner of the school record for homeruns in a season … earned Dean's List honors in receiving his undergraduate degree in history this past May and is now enrolled in the Master Teacher Fellows program … proud of that achievement, just as he is of his two-year-old son Jelani and his Christian faith … age 22 (born 12/5/76).

CAREER STATISTICS

        COMP  ATT   PCT.   YDS   TD  INT  LG
1996    13    30    43.3   180   1   0    29
1997    54    93    58.1   606   1   5    43
1998    38    58    65.5   468   4   2    61
TOTALS  105   181   58.0   1254  6   7    61

MOST COMPLETIONS
22 at Georgia Tech, 11/21/98

MOST PASS ATTEMPTS
41 at Florida State, 11/15/97

MOST YARDAGE
251 (21-41) at Florida State, 11/15/97

TOUCHDOWN PASSES
2 yards (to Desmond Clark) vs Virginia, 9/21/96 25 yards (to Clark) at Florida State, 11/15/97 3 yards (to William Merritt) vs Virginia, 10/31/98 43 yards (to Clark) at Georgia Tech, 11/21/98 2 yards (to Ira Williams) at Georgia Tech, 11/21/98 2 yards (to Ira Williams) at Georgia Tech, 11/21/98

TOUCHDOWN RUNS
16 yards vs Clemson, 11/1/97 1 yard at Rutgers, 11/8/97

LONGEST RUN
18 yards at Georgia Tech, 11/21/98