(Photo Credit: Wake Forest Athletic Communications)
Key Players Returning:
RB/KR Demond Claiborne, LB Quincy Bryant, LB Dylan Hazen, CB Jaxon Mull, NB Devaughn Patterson, FS Nick Andersen, SS Rushaun Tongue, and PK Matthew Dennis.
Key Players Departing:
QB Hank Bachmeier, WR Deuce Alexander, WR Donavon Greene, WR/PR Taylor Morin, WR Horatio Fields, OC Luke Petiitbon, OG Matt Gulbin, OG Nick Sharpe, OT DeVonte Gordon, OT Keegen Trost, DE Jasheen Davis, DE Kendron Wayman, DL Justin Williams, DT Bryce Ganious, DT Kevin Pointer, LB Branson Combs, CB Jamare Glasker, CB C’Darius Kelley, SS Evan Slocum, and PT Ivan Mora.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: OT Fa’alili Fa’amoe (Washington State transfer), and OL Jaishaun Offutt (Winchester, Virginia).
3 Star Recruits: CB Ashaad Williams (North Alabama transfer), WR Trishstin Glass (Copperas Cove, Texas), WR Koredell Bartley (Greensboro, North Carolina), RB Jamar Searcy (Pittsburg, California), WR Carlos Hernandez (Washington State transfer), CB Freddie Gillens (Columbia, South Carolina), LB Bailey Benson (Covington, Georgia), and WR Jack Foley (Bend, Oregon).
2024 Results:
G01 North Carolina A&T W 45-13
G02 VIRGINIA L 30-31
G03 #5 Ole Miss L 6-40
G04 LOUISIANA L 38-41
G05 @ NC State W 34-30
G06 #10 CLEMSON L 14-49
G07 @ UCONN W 23-20
G08 @ Stanford W 27-24
G09 CALIFORNIA L 36-46
G10 @ North Carolina L 24-31
G11 @ #8 Miami (FL) L 14-42
G12 DUKE L 17-23
Misc. Team Information:
2024 Record: 4-8 (15th in ACC)
Home: 1-6
Away: 3-2
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 2-6
Non-AAC: 2-2
Head Coach: Jake Dickert
Wake Forest: 0-0
Bowls: 0-2
Career: 23-20
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Demond Claiborne (228 car., 1049 yards, 4.6 avg., 11 TD)
Receiving: Demond Claiborne (23 rec., 254 yards, 11.0 avg., 2 TD)
TDs Scored: Demond Claiborne (14)
Sacks: Zach Lohavichan (1.5)
Tackles: Nick Andersen (122)
Tackles For Loss: Dylan Hazen (7)
Interceptions: Nick Andersen (2)
Pass Deflections: Davaughn Patterson (3)
Forced Fumbles: Quincey Bryant (2)
Kick Returns: Desmond Claiborne (11 ret., 277 yards, 25.2 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Matthew Dennis (16-20 fg/fga., 80%, 36-36 xp/xpa., 84 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 2 Robby Ashford (RS SR/TR)
RB: 1 Demond Claiborne (SR)
WR: 7 Micah Mays Jr. (RS SO)
WR: 4 Sterling Berkhalter (RS SR/TR)
WR: 8 Carlos Hernandez (JR/TR)
TE: 17 Michael Frogge (RS SR)
LT: 71 Melvin Siani (RS SO/TR)
LG: 00 Rodrick Tialavea (RS SR/TR)
OC: 70 Devin Kylany (RS SR/TR)
RG: 77 George Sell (RS SR)
RT: 79 Fa’alili Fa’amoe (RS SR/TR)
KR: 1 Demond Claiborne (SR)
PK: 99 Matthew Dennis (RS SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 18 BJ Williams (RS SR)
DT: 91 Jayden Loving (RS SR/TR)
DT: 94 Zach Lohavichan (RS SR)
DE: 10 Gabe Kirschke (RS JR/TR)
LB: 9 Quincy Bryant (RS SR)
LB: 24 Dylan Hazen (RS SR)
NB: 17 Zamari Stevenson (RS JR)
CB: 12 Jaxon Mull (RS JR/TR)
CB: 3 Karon Prunty (RS SR/TR)
FS: 45 Nick Andersen (RS SR)
SS: 5 Davaughn Patterson (RS SO)
PR: 1 Demond Claiborne (SR)
PT: 96 Jack Ploszay (RS FR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/30 KEENESAW STATE OWLS | First meeting.
09/06 WESTERN CAROLINA CATAMOUNTS | Wake Forest leads the series 3-0. The Demon Deacons won (40-24) the last meeting in 1991, and they won (21-0) the prior meeting in 1983.
09/11 NC STATE WOLFPACK | Wake Forest trails the series 43-69-6. The Demon Deacons are 5-5 since 2015, and their last series loss (6-26) was in 2023.
09/27 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS | Wake Forest trails the series 8-24. The Demon Deacons lost (16-30) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost (24-38) the prior meeting in 2017.
10/04 @ Virginia Tech Hokies | Wake Forest trails the series 13-26-1. The Demon Deacons lost (13-30) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (23-16) the prior meeting in 2020.
10/11 @ Oregon State Beavers | First meeting.
10/25 SMU MUSTANGS | Wake Forest trails the series 0-3. The Demon Deacons lost (7-14) the last meeting in 1975, and they lost (10-56) the prior meeting in 1972.
11/01 @ Florida State Seminoles | Wake Forest trails the series 9-31-1. The Demon Deacons are 3-5 since 2015, and they lost (16-41) the last meeting in 2023.
11/08 @ Virginia Cavaliers | Wake Forest trails the series 17-35. The Demon Deacons lost (30-31) last season’s meeting, and they won (37-17) the prior meeting in 2021.
11/15 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS | Wake Forest trails the series 36-73-2. The Demon Deacons are 1-5 since 2015, and their last series win (24-18) was in 2019.
11/22 DELAWARE BLUE HENS | Wake Forest leads the series 2-0. The Demon Deacons won (38-21) the last meeting in 2016, and they won (7-0) the inaugural meeting in 1932.
11/29 @ Duke Blue Devils | Wake Forest trails the series 41-61-2. The Demon Deacons are 4-6 since 2015, and their last series win (45-7) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Road: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 6-2
Non-ACC: 2-2
Overall: 8-4 (6th in ACC – Bowl Eligible)
gridironpredictions.net 