2023 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team

Last updated

2023 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
Wake Forest University Athletic logo.svg
Conference Atlantic Coast Conference
Record4–8 (1–7 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Warren Ruggiero (10th season)
Offensive scheme Slow mesh [1]
Defensive coordinator Brad Lambert (5th season)
Base defense Multiple 4–2–5
Home stadium Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
Seasons
  2022
2024  
2023 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 6 Florida State y$  8 0   13 1  
No. 19 Louisville y  7 1   10 4  
No. 21 NC State  6 2   9 4  
Georgia Tech  5 3   7 6  
Virginia Tech  5 3   7 6  
North Carolina  4 4   8 5  
No. 20 Clemson  4 4   9 4  
Duke  4 4   8 5  
Miami (FL)  3 5   7 6  
Boston College  3 5   7 6  
Syracuse  2 6   6 7  
Virginia  2 6   3 9  
Pittsburgh  2 6   3 9  
Wake Forest  1 7   4 8  
Championship: Florida State 16, Louisville 6
  • $ Conference champion
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Demon Deacons were led by Dave Clawson in his tenth year as head coach. They played their home games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team drew an average home attendance of 30,609 in 2023.

Contents

Offseason

Players drafted into the NFL

PlayerPositionTeamRoundPick
Kobie Turner DE Los Angeles Rams 389
A. T. Perry WR New Orleans Saints 6195

Transfers

Outgoing

PlayerPositionDestination
Jackson HensleyWR Eastern Kentucky
Christian TurnerRB Indiana
Zavier SimpsonWR Ball State
Brett GriffisQB James Madison
J.J. Roberts CB Marshall
Gavin HolmesCB Texas
Quinton Cooley RB Liberty
Rondell BothroydDL Oklahoma
Dez WilliamsWR Stony Brook
Sam Hartman QB Notre Dame
Bernard GoodenDL South Florida

[2]

Incoming

PlayerPositionPrevious school
Bryce GaniousDL Villanova
Walker MerrillWR Tennessee
Jacob RobertsILB North Carolina A&T

Schedule

Wake Forest and the ACC announced the 2023 football schedule on January 30, 2023. [3] [4] The 2023 season will be the conference's first season since 2004, that its scheduling format just includes one division. The new format sets Wake Forest with three set conference opponents, while playing the remaining ten teams twice (home and away) in a four–year cycle. The Demon Deacons three set conference opponents for the next four years is; Duke, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech. [5] [6]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 317:00 p.m. Elon * ACCN W 37–1730,028
September 911:00 a.m. Vanderbilt *
  • Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ACCNW 36–2028,363
September 1612:00 p.m.at Old Dominion * ESPN2 W 27–2418,276
September 236:30 p.m. Georgia Tech
  • Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • Winston-Salem, NC
The CW L 16–3032,528
October 73:30 p.m.at Clemson ACCNL 12–1780,810
October 143:30 p.m.at Virginia Tech ACCNL 13–3065,632
October 213:30 p.m. Pittsburgh Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ACCNW 21–1731,855
October 2812:00 p.m.No. 4 Florida State
  • Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ABC L 16–4131,288
November 27:30 p.m.at Duke ESPN L 21–2418,277
November 112:00 p.m. NC State
  • Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry)
The CWL 6–2629,591
November 183:30 p.m.at No. 19 Notre Dame * NBC L 7–4577,622
November 252:00 p.m.at Syracuse The CWL 31–3535,018

[7]

Game summaries

Elon

Elon Phoenix at Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Quarter1234Total
Phoenix0014317
Demon Deacons10146737

at Truist Field, Winston-Salem, NC

  • Date: August 31, 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 30,028
  • TV: ACCN
Game information
StatisticsELONWAKE
First downs1322
Total yards251427
Rushing yards10498
Passing yards149327
Turnovers21
Time of possession31:5028:10
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ElonPassingJustin Allen18/29, 130 yards, 2 INT
RushingJalen Hampton15 carries, 89 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJordan Bonner7 catches, 58 yards
Wake ForestPassing Mitch Griffis 19/30, 329, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingDemond Claiborne13 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Jahmal Banks 6 catches, 108 yards, 1 TD

Vanderbilt

Game Two – Vanderbilt Commodores (2–0) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Vanderbilt0140620
Wake Forest3213936

at Truist Field, Winston-Salem, NC

  • Date: September 9, 2023
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 28,363
  • Referee: Lee Hendrick
  • TV announcers (ACCN): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play), Hutson Mason (analyst), Lericia Harris (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • (12:50) WAKE – Matthew Dennis 25-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 0:40; Wake Forest 3–0)
Second quarter
  • (12:55) WAKE – Jahmal Banks 7-yard pass from Mitch Griffis (Matthew Dennis kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:10; Wake Forest 10–0)
  • (10:03) VAN – Will Sheppard 11-yard pass from AJ Swann (Jacob Borcila kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:46; Wake Forest 10–7)
  • (3:22) WAKE – Tate Carney 1-yard run (Matthew Dennis kick) (Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 6:41; Wake Forest 17–7)
  • (1:42) VAN – Will Shepard 10-yard pass from AJ Swann (Jacob Borcila kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:40; Wake Forest 17–14)
  • (0:50) WAKE – Brendon Harris 31-yard fumble return (Matthew Dennis kick) (Wake Forest 24–14)
Third quarter
  • (12:36) WAKE – Matthew Dennis 44-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 55 yards, 2:18; Wake Forest 27–14)
Fourth quarter
  • (11:39) WAKE – Ke'Shawn Williams 24-yard pass from Mitch Griffis (pass failed) (Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 3:15; Wake Forest 33–14)
  • (9:08) VAN – London Humphreys 30-yard pass from AJ Swann (pass failed) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:31; Wake Forest 33–20)
  • (2:24) WAKE – Matthew Dennis 20-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 73 yards, 6:44; Wake Forest 36–20)
StatisticsVANWAKE
First downs2129
Total yards423484
Rushing yards109288
Passing yards314196
Turnovers31
Time of possession25:4334:17
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VanderbiltPassingAJ Swann26/39, 314 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
RushingPatrick Smith10 carries, 77 yards
ReceivingLondon Humphreys4 receptions, 109 yards, TD
Wake ForestPassingMitch Griffis17/26, 196 yards, 2 TD
RushingDemond Claiborne26 carries, 165 yards
ReceivingKe'Shawn Williams5 receptions, 92 yards, TD

at Old Dominion

Georgia Tech

at Clemson

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Clemson Tigers − Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Wake Forest303612
Clemson073717

at Memorial StadiumClemson, SC

  • Date: October 7, 2023
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C) • Wind: NW @ 10 mph (16 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 80,810
  • Referee: Jerry Magallanes
  • TV announcers (ACCN): Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (color), Sherree Burruss (sideline)
  • Sources:
Game information
First quarter
  • (2:25) Wake Forest – Matthew Dennis 35 yard field goal, (Drive: 7 plays, 28 yards, 3:15; Wake Forest 3–0)

Second quarter

  • (10:18) Clemson – Cade Klubnik 7 yard rush, Jonathan Weitz kick, (Drive: 16 plays, 75 yards, 7:07; Clemson 7–3)

Third quarter

  • (7:15) Clemson – Weitz 25 yard field goal, (Drive: 15 plays, 67 yards, 7:45; Clemson 10–3)
  • (2:20) Wake Forest – Dennis 22 yard field goal, (Drive: 12 plays, 71 yards, 4:55; Clemson 10–6)

Fourth quarter

  • (5:49) Clemson – Will Shipley 1 yard rush, Weitz kick, (Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 3:45; Clemson 17–6)
  • (1:34) Wake Forest – Demond Claiborne 3 yard rush, 2 point attempt failed (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:15; Clemson 17–12)
StatisticsWAKECLEM
First downs1819
Total yards239338
Rushing yards102207
Passing yards137131
Turnovers12
Time of possession28:3931:21
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Wake ForestPassing Mitch Griffis 15/25, 137 yards
RushingDemond Claiborne19 rushes, 60 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Jahmal Banks 8 receptions, 55 yards
ClemsonPassing Cade Klubnik 18/28, 131 yards
Rushing Will Shipley 19 rushes, 97 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Beaux Collins 5 receptions, 50 yards

at Virginia Tech

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-2) at Virginia Tech Hokies − Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Wake Forest0100313
Virginia Tech01731030

at Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA

  • Date: October 14, 2023
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: sunny • Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 65,632
  • Referee: Stuart Mullins
  • TV: ACCN
Game information
Second Quarter
  • (10:42) VT – Bhayshul Tuten 3 yd Rush (John Love Kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 51 yards, 1:48; VT 7–0)
  • (4:23) VT - John Love 37 yd Field Goal (Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 4:31; VT 10-0)
  • (4:10) WF - Demond Claiborne 96 yd Kickoff Return (Matthew Dennis Kick) (VT 10-7)
  • (3:59) VT - Jaylin Lane 75 yd Pass From Kyron Drones (John Love Kick) (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:11; VT 17-7)
  • (0:20) WF - Matthew Dennis 28 yd Field Goal (Drive: 10 plays, 55 yards, 3:39; VT 17-10)
Third Quarter
  • (0:49) VT - John Love 26 yd Field Goal (Drive: 13 plays, 45 yards, 6:26; VT 20-10)
Fourth Quarter
  • (12:37) WF – Matthew Dennis 34 yd Field Goal (Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 3:12; VT 20–13)
  • (8:06) VT - John Love 36 yd Field Goal (Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 4:31; VT 23-13)
  • (2:47) VT - Jaylin Lane 12 yd Pass From Kyron Drones (John Love Kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 53 yards, 3:07; VT 30-13)
StatisticsWFVT
First downs2021
Total yards262462
Rush yards35141
Passing yards227321
Turnovers31
Time of possession27:0832:52
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Wake ForestPassingMichael Kern14/22, 166 yards
Rushing Justice Ellison 11 carries, 35 yards
ReceivingTaylor Morin7 receptions, 86 yards
Virginia TechPassing Kyron Drones 20/29, 321 yards, 2 TD
RushingKyron Drones15 carries, 59 yards
Receiving Jaylin Lane 3 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD

Pittsburgh

No. 4 Florida State

at Duke

NC State

Pregame lineOver/under
WAKE –0.542.5
NC State Wolfpack at Wake Forest Demon Deacons − Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Wolfpack7140526
Demon Deacons00066

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC

  • Date: November 11, 2023
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m EST
  • Game attendance: 29,591
  • TV announcers (CW): Tom Werme (play-by-play), James Bates (analyst), and Treavor Scales (sideline)
Game information
StatisticsNCSUWAKE
First downs198
Total yards379163
Rushing yards2687
Passing yards111156
Turnovers12
Time of possession40:1619:44
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NC StatePassing Brennan Armstrong 12–17, 113 yards, 1 TD
RushingBrennan Armstrong15 rushes, 96 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDacari Collins2 receptions, 40 yards
Wake ForestPassingMichael Kern14–26, 137 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingDemond Claiborne8 rushes, 12 yards
ReceivingHoratio Fields3 receptions, 31 yards

at No. 19 Notre Dame

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4–6) vs. No. 19 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7–3) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Wake Forest07007
No. 19 Notre Dame710141445

at Notre Dame StadiumNotre Dame, IN

  • Date: November 18, 2023
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 50 °F (10 °C)
  • Game attendance: 77,622
  • Referee: Tim Hedgepeth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jac Collinsworth (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst), and Zora Stephenson (reporter)
Game information
First quarter
  • (0:54) ND – Devyn Ford 12-yard pass from Sam Hartman, Spencer Shrader kick (Drive: 9 plays, 71 yards, 4:41; Notre Dame 7–0)
Second quarter
  • (11:41) WF – Tate Carney 9-yard run, Matthew Dennis kick (Drive: 7 plays, 72 yards, 4:07; Tied 7–7)
  • (7:06) ND – Tobias Merriweather 35-yard pass from Sam Hartman, Spencer Shrader kick (Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards, 4:28; Notre Dame 14–7)
  • (0:05) ND – Spencer Shrader 37-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards, 1:30; Notre Dame 17–7)
Third quarter
  • (14:09) ND – Eli Raridon 19-yard pass from Sam Hartman, Spencer Shrader kick (Drive: 1 play, 19 yards, 0:07; Notre Dame 24–0)
  • (5:22) ND – Audric Estimé 2-yard run, Spencer Shrader kick (Drive: 5 plays, 54 yards, 2:07; Notre Dame 31-7)
Fourth quarter
  • (13:24) ND – Jaden Greathouse 48-yard pass from Sam Hartman, Spencer Shrader kick (Drive: 1 play, 54 yards, 2:07; Notre Dame 38–0)
  • (3:56) ND – Jordan Faison 17-yard pass from Steve Angeli, Marcello Diomede kick (Drive: 10 plays, 73 yards, 5:49; Notre Dame 45–7)
StatisticsWAKEND
First downs1425
Total yards232450
Rushes/yards36–13430–137
Passing yards98313
Passing: Comp–Att–Int12–21–024–34–0
Time of possession31:2728:33
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Wake ForestPassingMichael Kern11/20, 81 yards
RushingEllison Justice15 carries, 63 yards
Receiving Jahmal Banks 5 receptions, 35 yards
Notre DamePassing Sam Hartman 21/29, 277 yards, 4 TD
Rushing Audric Estimé 22 carries, 115 yards, TD
Receiving Rico Flores Jr. 8 receptions, 102 yards

at Syracuse

Players drafted into the NFL

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
4124 Malik Mustapha S San Francisco 49ers
5174 Caelen Carson CB Dallas Cowboys
7230 Michael Jurgens C Minnesota Vikings

Source: [8]

References

  1. Markowski, Jack (October 19, 2023). "Pitt Panthers Preparing For Wake Forest's RPO-Heavy Offense". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  2. "2023 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports. August 31, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  3. "Wake Forest will play three of its first four football games this fall at home". News & Record. January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  4. Bergin, Mark (January 30, 2023). "Here are the 2023 football schedules for NC State, North Carolina and Duke". WRAL. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  5. "ACC Announces Football Schedule Model for 2023–26" (Press release). Atlantic Coast Conference. June 28, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  6. Murphy, Brian (June 28, 2022). "ACC eliminates football divisions, adopts new schedule model in 2023". WRAL. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  7. "2023 Wake Forest Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  8. "2024 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2024.