100 Days to Kickoff: Opponent Previews – Wake Forest
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Wake Forest being called a surprise last season is an overstatement. Dave Clawson decided to hang it up, doing so after signing day and the closure of the portal. In steps former Wazzu head coach Jake Dickert. Picked to finish 16th in the preseason poll, the Deacs rolled to nine wins and a tie for third in the conference.
Offense
Transfers within the conference are the name of the games this season. Wake brings in former UNC and South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez. Lopez is coming off a disappointing season for the Heels; he did complete 65% of his passes but only tossed ten touchdowns to go with five interceptions. He will be reunited with Rob Ezell, his offensive coordinator at South Alabama when he threw for over 2500 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Demond Claiborne is gone, a sixth-round pick to the Vikings, after leading Wake in rushing the past two seasons. Ty Clark III is the leading returning rusher and looks to have the inside track to start. KD Daniels comes over from Florida, having played sparingly in his two years there.
Carlos Hernandez returns after leading the team in receiving last season. He will be entering his fourth season with Jake Dickert. Wake loses the next five leading receivers from last season. Wake hit the portal hard at the wide receiver position; Ny Carr from Miami, Kam Shanks from Arkansas, Chase Tyler from Duke, Drayden Dickman from Rice. There are multiple opportunities for new guys to step up. Kamrean Johnson transfers in from Vanderbilt to start at tight end.
Defense
Wake returns four starters on the defensive line. Defensive ends Gabe Kirshke, 5 sacks and 4 TFL, and Langston Hardy, 7 sacks and 10 TFLs. Defensive tackles Zach Lohavichan, 4.5 TFLs, and Dallas Afalava, 3 sacks and 2 TFLs.
Aiden Hall returns at linebacker, after finishing third on the team in tackles last season. Frank Cusano has the inside track to the other linebacker spot, having played in 12 games last season.
Wake’s secondary returns two starters in safeties Davaughn Patterson and Braylon Johnson, Patterson finished second on the team in tackles last season. Deuce Blades transfers in at one corner after starting for the last three seasons at FIU. Travon West looks to start at the other corner, having played 13 games last season.
Special Teams
Kicker Conner Calvert returned after going 18 for 22 last season. Aussie Ethan Hyams looks like the starter at punter.
Conclusion
The Deacs schedule this season will be a tough one, they open the conference slate with preseason favorite Miami. Their trip to Atlanta will be the first for them since 2017, their last win in Atlanta was 2002. It will be interesting to see if Jake Dickert can surprise the conference for a second year in a row.
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