32 | 2023 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL GUIDE
WAKE FOREST
HEAD COACH: Dave Clawson OC: Warren Ruggiero DC: Brad Lambert
Winston-Salem, NC
2022 RECORD: 8-5 (3-5) FOUNDED: 1834 STADIUM: BB&T Field (31,500)
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
The Wake Forest offense averaged 36 points a game in 2020, 41 the following season, and 36 again in 2022 to lead the ACC. Quarterback Sam Hartman has decided to play his ninth year of eligibility at Notre Dame, and he’ll be missed. However, just as Hartman was well prepared when Jamie Newman graduated, so now is Mitch Griffis. Wake Forest will be fine at quarterback. However, filling some gaps—pun intended—along the offensive front may prove challenging. Michael Jurgens is an awesome offensive lineman, most likely to line up at guard this season, but he needs help. Justice Ellison averaged 4.2 yards a carry for 707 yards last season, but both backups transferred leaving that room a little thin. The receiving corps will be spectacular once again. Four players return with more than 550 receiving yards last season.
The Wake Forest defense has been a twisted sort of blessing for the Wake offense in recent seasons. The defense yielded 406 yards a game last season, which meant the offense had to keep the foot on the gas for the entire 60 minutes and roll up big numbers. There are a few huge holes to fill on defense, but Jasheen Davis is prepared to take another leap forward this season after making 14 stops behind the line last year. Linebacker Chase Jones is poised to become the main man after the graduation of Ryan Smenda Jr. Jones had six tackles for loss last season. Safety Malik Mustapha made eight stops behind the line and, along with Chelen Garnes, controls the secondary. Caelen Carson is an excellent cover corner and allows the safeties to play the run more often. Carson broke up seven passes, but opponents don’t throw his way often.
DEPTH CHART
DEPTH CHART
NO 12 6 80 2 11 20 52 55 74 70 62
PLAYER Mitch Griffis Justice Ellison Jahmal Banks Taylor Morin Donavon Greene Cameron Hite Spencer Clapp Michael Jurgens Luke Petitbon Nick Sharpe DeVonte Gordon
POS QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT
HT 5-11 5-10 6-4 5-10 6-2 6-3 6-6 6-4 6-2 6-2 6-5
WT 192 208 208 174 210 243 295 298 290 330 305
CLASS SO JR JR JR JR JR SR SR SO SO JR
NO 5 91 86 30 40 21 10 1 9 3 14
PLAYER Kendron Wayman Kevin Pointer Bryce Ganious Jasheen Davis Jacob Roberts Chase Jones DaShawn Jones Caelen Carson Chelen Garnes Malik Mustapha Evan Slocum
POS DE DT DT DE LB LB CB CB S S NB
HT 6-4 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-0 5-11 5-10 5-10
WT 250 290 280 253 235 231 180 190 205 205 194
CLASS JR JR JR JR SR SR SO JR SR JR JR
15 23 4 5 13 83 72 77 65 54 71
Michael Kern QB Demond Claiborne RB Walker Merrill WR Horatio Fields WR Ke’Shawn Williams WR Gavin Ellis TE Erik Russell LT George Sell LG Hank Lucas C Matt Gulbin RG CJ Elmonus RT
6-2 5-9 6-1 6-3 5-10 6-5 6-8 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-7
187 200 195 194 185 237 290 294 282 308 291
JR SO JR SO JR SO SO SO FR SO JR
43 11 44 15 26 24 25 17 0 7 45
BJ Williams Nick Helbig Justin Williams Jaylen Hudson Quincy Bryant Dylan Hazen Jamare Glasker Zamari Stevenson Brendon Harris AJ Williams Nick Andersen
DE DT DT DE LB LB CB CB S S NB
6-4 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-0 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-1 5-11 5-11
255 275 282 241 226 230 172 175 214 194 194
SO SR JR JR SO SO FR SO SR JR SO
99 36
Matthew Dennis Ivan Mora
181 190
SO JR
13 2
Ke’Shawn Williams KR Taylor Morin PR
185 174
JR JR
SPECIAL TEAMS K P
5-11 6-0
2023 SCHEDULE A.31 .................................. Elon
O.21 ..................... Pittsburgh
S.9 ......................... Vanderbilt
O.28 ................. Florida State
S.16 ..........at Old Dominion
N.4 ..............................at Duke
S.23 ................. Georgia Tech
N.11 ......................... NC State
O.7 .......................at Clemson
N.18 .............at Notre Dame
O.14 ............ at Virginia Tech
N.25 ....................at Syracuse
SPECIAL TEAMS 5-10 5-10
NEWCOMERS Bryce Ganious, DT — The transfer from Villanova will be asked to take on a large role for the Deacons this season. It will be critical that Ganious and linebacker Jacob Roberts adjust to FBS competition quickly. Jacob Roberts, LB — The talent level Roberts faced at North Carolina A&T last season is quite different from the ACC. Roberts will have little room for error this season. Walker Merrill, WR — The transfer from Tennessee had just eight catches for 116 yards, but scored three times in limited duty last season.
