(Photo Credit: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Sam Hartman, RB/KR Christian Beal-Smith, WR/KR Donavon Greene, WR Jaquarii Roberson, OG Sean Maginn, OT Je’Vionte Nash, OT Zach Tom, DE Rondell Bothroyd, DE JaCorey Johns, DT Miles Fox, LB Treveon Redd, LB Ryan Smenda, LB A.J. Williams, CB Caelen Carson, CB Ja’Sir Taylor, FS Nick Andersen, SS Zion Keith, PR Taylor Morin, PK Nick Sciba, and PT Ivan Mora.
Key Players Departing:
RB Kenneth Walker, OG Taleni Suhren, DE Carlos Basham, and LB Jacquez Williams.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: QB Santino Mariucci (Jacksonville, Florida), CB K.J. Trujillo (Colorado transfer), OT Jaydon Collins (Greer, South Carolina), RB Will Towns (Jackson, New Jersey), OG Matt Gulbin (Wilton, Connecticut), LB Dylan Hazen (The Woodlands, Texans), CB Quincy Bryant (Lilburn, Georgia), DT Bernard Gooden (Montgomery, Alabama), OT Erik Russell (Boston, Massachusetts), and TE Brandon Williams (Johnston, South Carolina).
2020 Results:
G01 #1 CLEMSON L 13-37
G02 at NC State L 42-45
G03 CAMPBELL W 66-14
G04 VIRGINIA W 40-23
G05 #19 VIRGINIA TECH W 23-16
G06 at Syracuse W 38-14
G07 at North Carolina L 53-59
G08 at Louisville L 21-45
BOWL vs. Wisconsin L 28-42
Misc. Team Information:
2020 Record: 4-5 (10th in ACC)
Home: 3-1
Away: 1-3
Neutral: 0-1
ACC: 3-4
Non-AAC: 1-1
Head Coach: Dave Clawson
Wake Forest: 40-45
Career: 130-124
Bowls: 3-4
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Sam Hartman (159-273, 2224 yards, 58.2%, 8.1 avg., 13 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Christian Beal-Smith (142 car., 732 yards, 5.2 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Jaquarii Roberson (62 rec., 926 yards, 14.9 avg., 8 TD)
TDs Scored: Jaquarii Roberson (8)
Sacks: Miles Fox (3.5)
Tackles: Nick Anderson (63)
Tackles For Loss: Miles Fox (11)
Interceptions: Nick Andersen (4)
Pass Deflections: Ja’Sir Taylor (6)
Forced Fumbles: Caelen Carson/Chase Jones/Ryan Smenda (1)
Kick Returns: Ke’Shawn Williams (5 ret., 82 yards, 16.4 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Taylor Morin (10 ret., 96 yards, 9.6 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Nick Sciba (14-17 fg/fga., 82%, 31-31 xp/xpa., 73 pts.)
Punting: Ivan Mora (40 punts, 1610 yards, 40.3 avg., 10 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 10 Sam Hartman (RS SO)
RB: 26 Christian Beal-Smith (RS JR)
WR: 2 Donald Stewart (GR/TR)
WR: 83 Taylor Morin (RS FR)
WR: 5 Jaquarii Roberson (RS JR)
TE: 23 Brandon Chapman (RS SR)
LT: 50 Zach Tom (RS JR)
LG: 79 Sean Maginn (RS JR)
OC: 55 Michael Jurgens (RS SO)
RG: 75 Terrance Davis (GR/TR)
RT: 62 DeVonte Gordon (RS FR)
KR: 83 Taylor Morin (RS FR)
PK: 4 Nick Sciba (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 40 Rondell Bothroyd (RS SO)
DT: 1 Sulaiman Kamara (RS SR)
DT: 11 Miles Fox (GR/TR)
DE: 4 Jacorey Johns (RS SO)
LB: 12 Luke Masterson (RS SR)
LB: 5 Ryan Smenda (JR)
NB: 22 A.J. Williams (RS FR)
CB: 6 Ja’Sir Taylor (SR)
CB: 29 Caelen Carson (FR)
FS: 3 Nasir Greer (JR)
SS: 17 Traveon Redd (RS SR)
PR: 83 Taylor Morin (RS FR)
PT: 96 Ivan Mora (RS FR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/03 OLD DOMINION MONARCHS | First meeting between schools.
09/11 NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS | First meeting between schools.
09/18 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES | Wake Forest trails the series 7-30-1. The Demon Deacons are 2-7 since 2011, and their last series loss (17-38) was in 2018.
09/24 at Virginia Cavaliers | Wake Forest trails the series 16-34. The Demon Deacons won (40-23) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (16-17) was in 2007.
10/02 LOUSIVILLE CARDINALS | Wake Forest trails the series 2-6. The Demon Deacons are 2-5 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series win (56-35) was in 2018.
10/09 at Syracuse Orange | Wake Forest trails the series 4-6. The Demon Deacons are 3-6 since 2011, and their last series loss (30-39 OT) was in 2019.
10/23 at Army Black Knights | Wake Forest leads the series 11-5. The Demon Deacons lost (13-21) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
10/30 DUKE BLUE DEVILS | Wake Forest trails the series 40-58-2. The Demon Deacons are 4-5 since 2011, and their last series loss (23-31) was in 2017.
11/06 at North Carolina Tar Heels | Wake Forest trails the series 36-70-2. The Demon Deacons are 2-3 since 2011, and their last series win (24-18) was in 2019.
11/13 NC STATE WOLFPACK | Wake Forest trails the series 41-67-6. The Demon Deacons are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series win (44-10) was in 2019.
11/20 at Clemson Tigers | Wake Forest trails the series 17-68-1. The Demon Deacons are 0-10 since 2011, and their last series win (12-7) was in 2008.
11/27 at Boston College Eagles | Wake Forest trails the series 11-14-2. The Demon Deacons are 5-4 since 2011, and their last series loss (34-41) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Road: 5-1
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 7-1
Non-ACC: 3-1
Overall: 10-2 (2nd in ACC Atlantic)
gridironpredictions.net 