(RB Demond Claiborne – Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB/KR Demond Claiborne, WR/PR Taylor Morin, OC Luke Petiitbon, OG Matt Gulbin, OT DeVonte Gordon, DE Jasheen Davis, DE Kendron Wayman, DT Kevin Pointer, LB Quincy Bryant, LB Dylan Hazen, FS Nick Andersen, PK Matthew Dennis and PT Ivan Mora.
Key Players Departing:
QB Mitch Griffis (Marshall transfer), RB Justice Ellison (Indiana transfer), WR Jahmal Banks (Nebraska transfer), WR Wesley Grimes (NC State transfer), WR/KR Ke’Shawn Williams (Indiana transfer), OG Michael Jurgens (Vikings R7), OT Spencer Clapp, LB Jacob Roberts, CB Caelen Carson (Cowboys R5), CB DaShawn Jones (Alabama transfer), FS Chelen Garnes, and SS Malik Mustapha (49ers R4).
(WR Jeremiah Melvin – The Charlotte Observer)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: WR Jeremiah Melvin (Fayetteville, North Carolina).
3 Star Recruits: QB Jeremy Hecklinski (Marietta, Georgia), LB Andrew Hines (Atlanta, Georgia), OT Clinton Richard (Hiram, Georgia), CB Capone Blue (Kent State transfer), EDGE Canden Hardy (Jacksonville, Florida), WR Ben Grice (Atlanta, Georgia), OT Jack Hines (Avon, Connecticut), TE Luca Puccinelli (Richmond, Virginia), and WR Ben Grice (Atlanta, Georgia).
2023 Results:
G01 ELON W 37-17
G02 VANDERBILT W 36-20
G03 @ Old Dominion W 27-24
G04 GEORGIA TECH L 16-30
G05 @ Clemson L 12-17
G06 @ Virginia Tech L 13-30
G07 PITT W 21-17
G08 #4 FSU L 16-41
G09 @ Duke L 21-24
G10 NC STATE L 6-26
G11 @ #19 Notre Dame L 7-45
G12 @ Syracuse L 31-35
Misc. Team Information:
2023 Record: 4-8 (14th in ACC)
Home: 3-3
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 1-7
Non-AAC: 3-1
Head Coach: Dave Clawson
Wake Forest: 63-61
Career: 153-141
Bowls: 5-4
(WR Taylor Morin – AP Photo)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Michael Kern (57-92, 647 yards, 62.0%, 7.0 avg., 4 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: Demond Claiborne (137 car., 586 yards, 4.3 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Taylor Morin (41 rec., 617 yards, 15.0 avg., 2 TD)
TDs Scored: Demond Claiborne (6)
Sacks: Jasheen Davis (7.5)
Tackles: Dylan Hazen (86)
Tackles For Loss: Jasheen Davis (17)
Interceptions: 4 tied (1)
Pass Deflections: Nick Andersen (3)
Forced Fumbles: Jasheen Davis/Rushaun Tongue (1)
Kick Returns: Desmond Claiborne (10 ret., 284 yards, 28.4 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Taylor Morin (15 ret., 148 yards, 9.9 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Matthew Dennis (14-20 fg/fga., 70%, 20-21 xp/xpa., 62 pts.)
Punting: Ivan Mora (58 punts, 2410 yards, 41.6 avg., 16 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 9 Hank Bachmeier (RS SR/TR)
RB: 1 Demond Claiborne (JR)
WR: 5 Horatio Fields (RS JR)
WR: 11 Donovan Greene (RS SR)
WR: 2 Taylor Morin (RS SR)
TE: 20 Cameron Hite (RS SR)
LT: 62 DeVonte Gordon (RS SR)
LG: 54 Matt Gubin (RS JR)
OC: 74 Luke Petitibon (RS JR)
RG: 70 Nick Sharpe (RS JR)
RT: 72 Erick Russell (RS JR)
KR: 1 Demond Claiborne (JR)
PK: 99 Matthew Dennis (RS JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 30 Jasheen Davis (SR)
DT: 91 Kevin Pointer (RS SR/TR)
DT: 55 Bryce Ganious (SR/TR)
DE: 5 Kendron Wayman (SR)
LB: 21 Branson Combs (RS SR/TR)
LB: 24 Dylan Hazen (RS JR)
NB: 7 Evan Slocum (SR)
CB: 25 Jamare Glasker (RS SO)
CB: 3 Capone Blue (RS SR/TR)
FS: 45 Nick Andersen (RS JR)
SS: 13 Davaughn Patterson (RS FR)
PR: 2 Taylor Morin (RS SR)
PT: 36 Ivan Mora (RS SR)
(DE Jasheen Davis – Wake Forest Athletics Communications)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: A
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 NORTH CAROLINA A&T AGGIES | Wake Forest won (42-3) the only prior meeting between schools in 2004.
09/07 VIRGINIA CAVALIERS | Wake Forest trails the series 13-26-1. The Demon Deacons are 2-2 since 2014, and their last series win (23-16) was in 2020.
09/14 OLE MISS REBELS | Wake Forest leads the series 2-0. The Demon Deacons won (30-28) the last meeting between schools in 2008.
09/28 LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS | Wake Forest trails the series 17-10. The Demon Deacons lost (10-17) the last meeting between schools in 2014, and they lost (19-21) the inaugural meeting in 2013.
10/05 @ NC State Wolfpack | Wake Forest trails the series 42-69-6. The Demon Deacons are 6-4 since 2014, and their last series win (45-42) was in 2021.
10/12 CLEMSON TIGERS | Wake Forest trails the series 17-71-1. The Demon Deacons are 0-10 since 2014, and their last series win (12-7) dates back to 2008.
10/19 @ UCONN HUSKIES | Wake Forest leads the series 2-1. The Demon Deacons won (24-10) the last meeting between schools in 2007.
10/26 @ Stanford Cardinal | The series is tied 1-1. The Demon Deacons lost (24-68) the last meeting between schools in 2010.
11/08 CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS | First meeting between schools.
11/16 @ North Carolina Tar Heels | Wake Forest trails the series 36-72-2. The Demon Deacons lost (34-36) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/23 @ Miami (FL) Hurricanes | Wake Forest trails the series 3-8. The Demon Deacons lost (21-24) the last meeting between schools in 2013.
11/30 DUKE BLUE DEVILS | Wake Forest trails the series 41-60-2. The Demon Deacons are 4-5 since 2014, and their last series win (45-7) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Road: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 5-3
Non-ACC: 2-2
Overall: 7-5 (8th in ACC)
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