Dave Clawson’s team has won 22 games over the past three seasons and seems primed to make a fourth straight bowl in 2019. Led by two quarterbacks with starting experience, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons appear to be a team on the rise in the stacked ACC conference.
Prestige Rating (If NCAA Football 20 existed): 3 stars
Projected Returning Starters:
Offense: 7
Two quarterbacks return with starting experience, sophomore Sam Hartman (former star of QB1 on Netflix), and junior Jamie Newman. Hartman played well as a freshman, throwing for 1,984 yards and 16 touchdowns while Newman threw for 1,083 yards and 9 touchdowns. Cade Carney returns after gaining 1,005 yards on the ground, and Kendall Hinton, who played quarterback in the past, will continue playing wide receiver after a late season move. On the offensive line, guard Nathan Gilliam and tackles Jake Benzinger and Justin Herron return.
Wake Forest suffered mightily in the first two years of Dave Clawson’s tenure (3-9 in both seasons), but have made three straight bowl appearances and are improving on the recruiting trail.
Defense: 5
The Demon Deacons return leading tackler Justin Strnad (105 tackles) to anchor their defense. As a unit, Wake Forest gave up 33.3 points per game, and did not create enough turnovers, ending 2018 with a -3 deficit in turnovers. Essang Bassey is a strong cover corner, breaking up 15 passes and picking off one last season. Also returning opposite Bassey is senior Amari Henderson, who broke up 10 passes last year. On the defensive line, the lone returner is junior Carlos Basham, who collected 64 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2018.
Specialists: 2
Both kicker Nick Sciba and punter Dom Maggio return after standout seasons. Sciba was a perfect 50-50 on extra points, and 19-22 on field goals. Maggio averaged 41.8 yards per punt, and pinned the opponent inside the 20-yard line 24 times. Gone is return star Greg Dortch, who returned two punts for touchdowns in 2018.
Key Losses
Losing Greg Dortch, who totaled 1,078 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, will be hard to replace. In addition to his success as a receiver, Dortch returned two punts for touchdowns, and took a lot of pressure off true freshman quarterback Sam Hartman. On the defensive side, Cameron Glenn has graduated after collecting 98 tackles and breaking up four passes. Glenn leaves a glaring hole in the back of an already weak secondary.
Key Newcomer-Offense: Donavan Greene, WR
Greene was a four-star prospect who chose to stay in-state and early enroll at Wake Forest. The 6-foot-2 receiver brings above-average size to the unit. He could quickly become a favorite target for whichever quarterback wins the starting job.
Key Newcomer-Defense: Shamar McCollum, DL
McCollum, a 3-star defensive lineman from South Carolina, committed to Wake Forest before his senior season. It seems his loyalty will soon pay off in the for of early playing time. Currently projected to backup redshirt freshman JaCorey Jones at defensive end, and could quickly earn a big role in the rotation. McCollum will be counted on to provide pass rush depth early.
Breakout Player of the Year: Scotty Washington, WR
Washington was almost an afterthought for his quarterbacks, hauling in just 20 passes as he was stuck behind stars like Dortch and Alex Bachman. At 6-foot-5, Washington brings a size advantage into every matchup imaginable this season, and has three years of experience to build off. Look for Washington and sophomore Sage Surratt (6’3″) to exploit their matchups and haul in a lion’s share of the passes thrown this season.
Wins the Conference If: A Miracle Happens
To be blunt, Wake Forest needs nothing short of a miracle to capture the ACC crown. Come to think of it, the same can be said for almost every team besides Clemson.
Circle this Game on the Calendar: 11/2 vs. NC State
Last season, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons upset N.C. State on the road, their first victory over a ranked opponent on the road since 2008. Jamie Newman tossed the game-winning touchdown with just 30 seconds remaining in his first career start. Expect N.C. State to be out for revenge in this one. Something to watch out for: both teams come into this game off a bye week and Wake Forest has lost seven straight games following a bye.
Alcohol Prediction: Spiked Seltzer
While it will eventually get the job done, spiked seltzer is far from the flashiest of drinks. Wake Forest has been getting the job done lately, but has been outshined greatly by other conference members.
2019 Outlook: 6-6 (2-6 ACC)
Struggles are on the horizon for the Demon Deacons within the ACC. Unfortunately, their matchup with the Tar Heels falls out of the conference record. Luckily for Wake Forest, their non conference allows for the team to head to a bowl game for a fourth straight season.
