|
Linebacker Mark DeOrio
left the Wake Forest
football team for personal
reasons Wednesday.
|
DeOrio Leaves Football Team
Abdul Guice to start at outside linebacker Saturday.
Oct. 20, 1999
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Sophomore linebacker Mark DeOrio has decided to
leave the Wake Forest football team for personal reasons, Head Coach Jim
Caldwell announced today. DeOrio will remain at the university to complete
his undergraduate degree, however.
"It's something that surprised us all," said Caldwell, "but apparently it's
something Mark had been thinking about for a long time. Nevertheless, it
leaves us with a hole in our defense."
DeOrio, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., started each of the Demon Deacons'
first six games at outside linebacker, collecting 15 tackles and two pass
break-ups. With his departure, senior Abdul Guice is expected to start at
outside linebacker vs. UAB this Saturday. Guice started every game last
year at inside linebacker in place of the injured Kelvin Moses, recording
71 tackles and three sacks. He suffered a knee injury in preseason,
however, and has missed the first six games of '99.
"Thank goodness we've got a guy like Abdul with some experience who can
step in and give us some depth at that position," said Caldwell. "We've
gotten healthier at our linebacking position just in time. We wish Mark
the very best."
