No Given Givens Will Be Back in 2012
Chris Givens had a really good season at Wake Forest, maybe too good for the overall good of the Deacons’ football program.
Givens, a record-breaking junior receiver, said at today’s final gathering to eat chicken and talk football that he is considering making himself eligible for the NFL draft. He said he wants to decide by the end next week where he will be playing football next season.
“I don’t know if I’m coming back or I’m leaving yet,’’ Givens said. “I want to make my decision before the end of next week and we’ll see what happens.’‘
I asked Givens if it had sunk in yet that the Dec. 30 game against Mississippi State in the Music City Bowl may be his last at Wake Forest.
“Not really,’’ Givens said. “It has sunk it a little bit, but if I leave I feel it’ll sink in more then. Right now I’m just really focusing on the here and now and I’m trying to think about anything that could sway my decision.’‘
Givens is the best receiver I’ve ever seen play at Wake. He made first-team All-ACC after catching 74 passes for 1,276 yards and nine touchdowns, breaking the yardage record Hall-of-Famer Ricky Proehl established in 1989. He along with quarterback Tanner Price were two of the biggest reasons the Deacons were able to rebound from last season’s 3-9 debacle to receive their first bowl invitation since 2008.
Nobody knows better than coach Jim Grobe just how good Givens is.
“When you’ve broken Ricky Proehl’s records, now you’re a pretty good football player,’’ Grobe said.
Grobe, by experience as well as inclination, is usually against players leaving college early. I always figured some of that mindset came from just how hard Grobe had to work to get a scholarship to Virginia—by spending two years at Ferrum Junior College—and just what playing ACC football meant to him.
But Givens said in the chat the two have had, Grobe told him he was in his corner regardless of his decision.
“He’s been like the best a head coach could be with the whole situation,’’ Givens said.
Grobe wasn’t thrilled when Jon Abbate left early to make himself available for the draft after the 2006 season. But that was mainly because Abbate was only 5-10 and Grobe had been told by people he trusted that Abbate wasn’t going to be drafted. Abbate, indeed, wasn’t drafted, and despite signing a free-agent contract with the Houston Texans as a fullback, never played in an NFL game.
Givens, at 6-0, 190 pounds, is a smaller receiver than most NFL teams prefer, but there are a lot of 6-0 receivers making plenty of money in pro football.
“He’s a real-deal guy, there’s no question about it,’’ Grobe said. “And Jon Abbate was a real good player. There was no doubt Jon could play. But Jon just wasn’t very tall.
“In Chris’s case, you know they would probably want him to be a little taller, I’m sure if the truth is known. They would probably want him to be a little bit more physical as a blocker and did some things without the ball in his hands than he does. But he does some really good things – good speed, good routes, good work ethic, catches the ball good, got the real, real good footspeed. He’s a good player. He’s a really good player.’‘
Grobe said he wants what’s best for his players. And if that means that Givens is better off playing in the NFL next season, then the Deacons will still field a football team in 2012.
“Camp’s a good player,’’ Grobe said of sophomore flanker Michael Campanaro. “And a couple of guys in the shadows who haven’t done much might be the next Chris Givens. You never know when Scooby (Lovell Jackson) might step up. He’s got as good of foot speed as most of the guys on our team. And he might step up. I think Matt James is a guy who could step up. I hate to ever put pressure on freshmen but Sherman Ragland, I think, is going to be special. Brandon Terry has a ways to go, but we’ve got a couple of big receivers who would be great targets for Tanner. And then Camp could end up being the go-to guys.
“We’ve got some guys to do some things with and I think we’re having a really good recruiting class. We’re bringing some really good footspeed in. So we’ll see.’‘
Indeed we will.
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By Dan Collins on 12/08/2011 (4:35 pm)
Comments
As someone very familiar with the pro game, my vote is that Chris would be better served playing another year at Wake. He needs to work the weights, and the tough side of the game, both physically and mentally.
Glenn Williams on 12/15/2011 (4:28 pm)
Hopefully, someone Givens trusts and respects will shoot straight with the young man and tell him to stay in school. He is a talented player, but needs more seasoning before going pro. He would have a better chance for success if he stayed and honed his skills. If he were to leave now, he would be a mid round pick and be on a tough road to make a team. Let’s hope someone can get to him.
Richard on 12/10/2011 (8:18 pm)
Dan, although Wake Forest, the football Deacs and the university fans will surely wish Mr. Givens well if he decides to leave the team and school, there is almost nothing as deflating to all concerned, except for the player involved. As for myself, it always puts me in shock and, to some extent, grief. Of course, what is involved is the green stuff. It bothers me some that so much of the citizenry of our nation is oriented and focused on the big Number One. Chris Paul has certainly had success and left an imprint in pro basketball, but I was very sad that he left Wake for the dollars. One never knows the heart of another person’s motivations, so I say this not in judgment, or even in criticism. No doubt about it: Chris Givens is very good and may have a successful career in the pros. But, there is nothing like being in a school like Wake, and my opinion is, it is a great personal loss not to take advantage to the fullest. I hope the young man decides to stick with WFU. I believe he would never regret doing so.
Lee Anglin on 12/09/2011 (1:08 pm)
If I were advising Chris, I would tell him to head on up to the NFL. I don’t know that he could have much better of a year than he did this year. And, with most of the offensive line graduating, he may not get a very good opportunity next year to show off his skills the way he did this year. Rather than comparing him to Jon Abbate or Aaron Curry, I would comapre his situation more to that of Erik Williams, the former Wake basketball forward. With Chris Paul feeding him the ball, Erik looked pretty darn good. Erik thought about leaving early but opted to stay for his senior year. Without Chris Paul (and with essentially no point guard no the team), Erik looked like a run-of-the-mill forward and never got a sniff of the NBA. Even though Tanner Price will be around next year and will be a year better, his O-line may not give him the kind of time he will need to get Chris the ball on anything more than screens, end-arounds, or quick slants. And those types of plays surely will not impress the scouts as much as what Chris has done this year. As a Wake Forest fan I would love to have him back next year. But since I also want Wake players to go on to bigger and better things, I think he should move on while he is able to do so.
Matt on 12/09/2011 (12:58 pm)
Jim,
Well said. I agree completely. Also, since Givens is a redshirt junior, I presume that he is on track to graduate in May. So even if he decides to leave early, he would be doing so with his degree in hand. Not a bad deal. Nevertheless, I think this all comes down to, as Coach Grobe said, Givens getting into the first or second round. If there is a question about that, then I think that coming back (and getting started on a Masters) makes a lot of sense. Regarless, I’d like to thank Chris for his efforts so far, and wish him the best of luck no matter what decision he makes.
DC on 12/09/2011 (10:21 am)
As with everyone else, I would love for Givens to come back. However, that is a selfish view on my part. If he has the opportunity to make big money by going pro next year and, at the same time, financially help his family, I say God speed. Realistically, we all know that staying one more year has ups as well as downs. He could improve his draft position with a strong year, or hurt it with a poor one. He could get injured and never get drafted, etc., etc. Part of the enticement for these kids is the idea of playing pro ball. Knowing that Coach Grobe supports his decision is good for Givens, but is also good for Grobe, because kids with great talent need to know that if they sign with Wake, they will have a coach that will never take the selfish path when it comes to helping them.
Jim on 12/09/2011 (9:14 am)
Chris, I have been following you since the Baylor Game a few years ago. Boy you really made some spectacular plays this season. Upon leaving Wallace Wade Stadium this year, I heard a dad tell his little son,” Thank goodness for Chris Givens or we would had lost this game” Yes, Chris you have really matured this year, and without you we would not be playing in a bowl game this December. The final decision rests with you,and I believe with one more year at Wake Forest,if you stay healthy, you will be a first round draft choice. Best of luck to you champ, but in my Deacon heart, I beg to say, Chris tell us so, please do not go. Amen Brother!
The Original PC on 12/08/2011 (9:23 pm)
His first fan fest I grabbed a picture of him and my daughter. It is still right above the main handle on our refridge. This fall a fella came into town with all the “yahoo’s” I know that live by East Carolina. We all met at my house before the State game. I told the guy he needed a shirt and to pick one out. He looked at the jerseys I have. I told him you won’t go wrong wearing that number 2 jersey. About midnight that Saturday night we were all still together having a good time. He finally pulled the jersey off to give back to me. He said I had no idea who number 2 was but today I found out.
Doug on 12/08/2011 (7:58 pm)
Wow. Perhaps I shouldn’t be, but I am surprised that Givens is considering making the jump to the NFL. Obviously he has the talent to play at the next level, and if he decides to leave, then I wish him the best. The question really isn’t whether Givens will get drafted, it’s when will he get drafted. I think that he really stands to improve his draft stock quite a bit by playing in college for another year. In that sense, I think that Aaron Curry is a better comparison to Givens than Jon Abbate. Curry seriously considered going pro after his junior year, when he likely would have been at best a third rounder. Now, I am not saying that Givens will surely be a top five pick after his senior year, but he very well could get himself into the first round or early second. That might provide enough financial incentive to come back to Wake and work on his craft.
DC on 12/08/2011 (6:15 pm)
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