Demon Deacons out to keep winning in ACC
TALLAHASSEE — Wake Forest has yet to topple Clemson and Florida State in the ACC’s Atlantic Division, but coach Dave Clawson believes the Demon Deacons are on their way.
Clawson has constructed a competitive team that has given other ACC teams fits and is coming off its best season in his four years.
With momentum of winning a bowl game for the second consecutive season keeping players enthused and engaged, Clawson hopes their collective energy can translate into another successful campaign.
“I think there is a confidence level in our program and with our players that maybe we didn’t have two years ago or even a year ago. But by the same token, it never, ever becomes easy. I think our players understand that,” Clawson said after spring practice. “We want to be able to compete for the ACC championship. To do that, you have to beat some really good teams. Some of those guys we haven’t beaten yet. So we still have a lot of work to do.”
Wake Forest is No. 43 in Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel’s preseason 2018 college football rankings. Murschel ranked all 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 129 to our projected No. 1 team.
Forest Wake
Dave Clawson (8-5, entering fifth season; 21-29 overall)
8-5 overall, 4-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference; tied for third in Atlantic Division
Wake Forest got off to a 4-0 start last season, including wins at Boston College and Appalachian State, but then suffered a three-game losing streak.
Despite playing competitively, Wake lost to Florida State by a touchdown while quarterback John Wolford missed losses to Clemson and Georgia Tech due to injury.
The Demon Deacons finished the season winning four of their last six games, including a 55-52 Belk Bowl victory over Texas A&M to secure Clawson’s best record in four years at the school after 3-9 campaigns in 2014 and 2015, and a 7-9 run in 2016. 5
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DB Jessie Bates III, DE Duke Ejiofor, QB John Wolford, WR Tabari Hines, TE Cam Serigne, DE Wendell Dunn, LB Jaboree Williams, LB Grant Dawson, PK Mike Weaver.
RB Matt Colburn II, QB Kendal Hinton, TE Thomas Cole, DB Arkeem Byrd, WR Greg Dortch, WR Scotty Washington, OL Ryan Anderson, OL Justin Herron, OL Phil Haynes, DB Cameron Glenn, LB Justin Strand, DB Essang Bassey, DB Amari Henderson, WR Chuck Wade Jr., DT Zeek Rodney.
The Demon Deacons return eight starters on offense, including all five offensive linemen, and are poised to take the next stride offensively once projected starting quarterback Kendall Hinton serves a three-game suspension for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Wake could get off to a slow start with Hinton and tight end Thomas Cole, both of whom are suspended for the first three games.
Inexperienced backup quarterback Jamie Newman will likely run the offense during Hinton’s absence and could take over the starting job.
Wake will also be without second-leading receiver Tabari Hines, who graduated and has transferred to Oregon. Running back turned defensive back Arkeem Byrd, a major contributor last season, suffered a torn ACL in spring practice and will likely not play this season.
Clawson’s team may not be ready to contend for an Atlantic Division crown, but it could continue to be one of the ACC’s most competitive teams.