Wake Forest Demon Deacons stats records schedule and standing

Demon Deacons

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

NCAAF – ACC

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

2022-2023 TEAM LEADERS

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Football Team

Wake Forest Football Team News

After four consecutive victories, the Demon Deacons were four and two at one point in 2020, then lost a barn burner to North Carolina before dropping their final two games, including Wisconsin in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Wake Forest has a wealth of experience on both sides of the ball, with everyone back on offense and eight starters returning to the defense.

Prior to last season, Wake had compiled four straight winning seasons, only the second time that had occurred in the history of the program and the first time since 1926. They’ve appeared in a bowl game the last five years, a school record, and eighth-year head coach Dave Clawson definitely has the team headed in the right direction.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Standings

The Virginia Tech Hokies are a well-respected team in the NCAAF, known for their high-scoring offenses and tough defenses. Their stats show a commitment to an attacking style of play, relying on quick strikes and big plays to outscore their opponents. With a talented roster and a drive to succeed, the Hokies are sure to make a strong showing in the current season and will be watched closely in the standings.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Trends

2020 Summary

The strength of the team was the offense, which was third in the conference and 19th in the nation in scoring, averaging 36 points a game. Quarterback Sam Hartman completed 58.1% of his passes for 13 touchdowns while tossing five interceptions. The offense was 28th in the FBS in yardage, with an average total of over 444 yards per contest.

Defensively, they had trouble stopping teams, especially down the stretch, as they allowed almost 49 points a game in their three season-ending losses. However, during their four-game winning streak, they held opponents to an average of fewer than 17 points.

Key Players

Hartman is experienced and dependable, if not particularly spectacular. The third-year starter is reliable, and he will be a key for Wake Forest to continue to move forward as a program, which it can, especially with the lack of depth in the ACC Atlantic division.

Strong safety Nick Anderson will help anchor a secondary with potential but returns the fewest starters of any defensive units. Anderson led the team with four interceptions and was second on the team with 63 tackles, including one for a loss.

Wake Forest’s leading receiver, Jaquaril Roberson, returns after catching 62 passes for 926 yards and eight touchdowns. His average of almost 15 yards a reception will help the Deacons continue to put pressure on opposing defenses and provide Hartman a proven target on an offense that needs to produce points.

Key Additions

Michigan transfer Christian Turner will add depth at running back for a ground game that was seventh in the conference and barely in the top half of the FBS at 63rd. Turner is one of several backs who Wake Forest will turn to follow the departure of Kenneth Walker III to Michigan State.

Offensive lineman Terrance Davis has had a career filled with injuries, sitting out the 2020 season after transferring from Maryland. He’s a good run blocker and could help tremendously with the ground game, giving the Demon Deacons more balance on offense and taking the pressure off Hartman.

Key Subtractions

Leading 2020 tackler Jac’quez Williams, who also had two sacks and six tackles for loss last season from his linebacker position, entered the transfer portal and ended up at Louisiana-Monroe. His departure leaves a hole at a position that is experienced but not particularly talented.

Kenneth Walker III led Wake Forest with 13 touchdowns in 2020, hurting the team’s talent at running back. The elusive back averaged almost five yards a carry and gave the Demon Deacons another option in the ground game.

Defensive end Carlos Basham Jr. led Wake Forest with five sacks and added 4.5 tackles for a loss in just six games in 2020. He was picked in the second round by the Buffalo Bills.

Divisional Outlook

The ACC abandoned the division format for 2020. Still, a team from the Atlantic Division won the ACC Championship game for the tenth consecutive season, with Clemson defeating one year member Notre Dame 34 – 10. It was the Tigers’ sixth straight ACC title, and despite losing quarterback Trevor Lawrence to the NFL, they are still considered a heavy favorite to make it seven in a row.

North Carolina State is expected to be the strongest of the rest of the teams in the division, following an 8- 4 record in 2020. Boston College, Florida State, Louisville, and Wake Forest will battle it out for the third spot while Syracuse will likely occupy the cellar.

Wake Forest Offense

With a wealth of starters returning, the offense should be productive, but depth at a number of spots, most glaringly at running back, could pose issues. The entire receiving corps is back, but Hartman may be forced to make plays that aren’t necessarily in his repertoire without a solid ground game.

In 2020, the wide receivers caught almost all of the passes, with little or no production from the tight ends and the running backs. The Demon Deacons will need to install more variety in the offensive scheme if they expect to get back over .500, especially with a schedule that again includes ACC Coastal favorite North Carolina.

Wake Forest Defense

The losses of Basham Jr. and Williams will hurt a unit that wasn’t all that reliable in 2020. They bring back a lot of players, but they haven’t upgraded at all from what they put on the field last season, a unit that averaged around 90th nationally in every major defensive category.

The secondary has the potential to be better, with Nasir Greer coming back from injury at free safety and second-year player Caelen Carson joining the experienced Ja’Sir Taylor at cornerback. A big question mark is how Wake Forest is going to generate a pass rush, with the loss of talent at the linebacker and defensive end positions.

Overall, the Demon Deacons are vulnerable on the defensive side of the ball and will need to play well as a unit to overcome the lack of raw talent.

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