2025 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team

Last updated

2025 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
Wake Forest University Athletic logo.svg
Conference Atlantic Coast Conference
Record8–3 (4–3 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Rob Ezell (1st season)
Offensive scheme Spread
Defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton (1st season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
Seasons
  2024
2026 
2025 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 19 Virginia  6 1   9 2  
Pittsburgh  6 1   8 3  
SMU  6 1   8 3  
No. 16 Georgia Tech  6 2   9 2  
No. 13 Miami (FL)  5 2   9 2  
Duke  5 2   6 5  
Wake Forest  4 3   8 3  
Clemson  4 4   6 5  
Louisville  4 4   7 4  
California  3 4   6 5  
NC State  3 4   6 5  
Stanford  3 5   4 7  
North Carolina  2 5   4 7  
Virginia Tech  2 5   3 8  
Florida State  2 6   5 6  
Syracuse  1 6   3 8  
Boston College  0 7   1 10  
Championship: December 6, 2025
As of November 23, 2025
Rankings from CFP Rankings

The 2025 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Demon Deacons are led by Jake Dickert in his first year as the head coach. [1] The Demon Deacons play their home games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Contents

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

PlayerPositionDestination
Horatio Fields WR Auburn
Walker MerrillWR Austin Peay
Ameir GlennDL Ball State
Chris MarableDL Boston College
Antonio Robinson Jr.CB Florida Atlantic
Luke PetitbonOL Florida State
Nick RaganoWR Furman
Harry LodgeTE Georgia Tech
Jeremy HecklinskiQB Iowa
Demarcus RankinDB Lamar
Tyler BlackK Liberty
Jamare GlaskerDB Maryland
Matt GulbinOL Michigan State
Keagen TrostOL Missouri
Deuce AlexanderWR Ole Miss
Luca PuccinelliTE Purdue
Charlie GilliamQB Samford
Nick SharpeOL South Carolina
Sam NeelyCB Stanford
Mitch Griffis QB Texas Tech
Donavon GreeneWR Virginia Tech
Zach VaughanOL Western Michigan
Busbee PhillipsCBUnknown
Eldrick Robinson IILBUnknown
Jaydon CollinsOLUnknown
Jason WoodsWRUnknown
Ryan DupontTEUnknown
Kennedy FauntleroyRBUnknown
Tayshaun BurneyCBUnknown
Trishstin GlassWRUnknown
Andrew Hines IIILBUnknown
Jaydn GirardWRUnknown
Bailey BensonLBUnknown
AJ HassonIOLUnknown
Demond Claiborne RBWithdrawn
Jacob DennisonOTWithdrawn

Incoming

PlayerPositionPrevious school
Deshawn Purdie QB Charlotte
Sterling BerkhalterWR Cincinnati
Nuer GatkuothDE Colorado State
Gabe KirschkeDL Colorado State
JaMario ClementsRB Duquesne
Brandon SmileyDL Elon
Harry LodgeTE Georgia Tech
Dallas AfalavaDL Idaho
Ja'Marion KennedyIOL Louisiana Tech
Sawyer RacanelliWR Montana
Ashaad WilliamsCB North Alabama
Karon PruntyDB North Carolina A&T
Jacob DennisonOL Ohio
Lardarius Webb Jr.S South Alabama
Robby Ashford QB South Carolina
Melvin SianiOL Temple
Karate BrensonWR Tennessee State
Langston HardyDE UConn
Kamrean JohnsonTE Vanderbilt
Braylon JohnsonCB Virginia Tech
Reginald Vick Jr.WR Virginia Union
Fa'alili Fa'amoe OL Washington State
AJ HassonOL Washington State
Chris BarnesWR Washington State
Jaylon EdmondDB Washington State
Carlos HernandezWR Washington State
Devin KylanyOL Washington State
Frank CusanoLB Washington State
Rodrick TialaveaOT Washington State
Connor CalvertK Washington State
Jayden LovingDL Western Kentucky
Sascha GarciaDB William & Mary

[2] [3] [4]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 297:00 p.m. Kennesaw State * ACCN W 10–930,789
September 62:00 p.m. Western Carolina *
  • Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ACCNX/ESPN+ W 42–1028,239
September 117:30 p.m. NC State
  • Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry)
ESPN L 24–3429,043
September 2712:00 p.m.No. 16 Georgia Tech
  • Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ESPNL 29–30 OT30,264
October 41:00 p.m.at Virginia Tech The CW W 30–2365,632
October 113:30 p.m.at Oregon State *The CWW 39–1429,710
October 2512:00 p.m. SMU Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • Winston-Salem, NC
The CWW 13–1228,358
November 17:30 p.m.at Florida State ACCNL 7–4263,677
November 87:00 p.m.at No. 14 Virginia ESPNW 16–955,568
November 154:30 p.m. North Carolina
  • Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry)
The CWW 28–1232,390
November 2212:00 p.m. Delaware *
  • Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ACCNW 52–1426,950
November 293:30 p.m.at Duke ACCN

[5]

Game summaries

vs Kennesaw State

Game One – Kennesaw State Owls (0–0) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Owls60309
Demon Deacons703010

at Allegacy StadiumWinston-Salem, NC

  • Date: Friday August 29, 2025
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 30,789
  • Referee: Nate Black
  • TV announcers (ACCN): Chuckie Kempf (play-by-play), Darius Walker (analyst), and Ashley Stroehlein (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • (7:58) WAKE – Robby Ashford 5 yard run, Connor Calvert kick (Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 7:02; WAKE 7–0)
  • (4:38) KENN – Coleman Bennett 19 yard run (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:17; WAKE 7–6)
Second quarter

No scoring plays

Third quarter
  • (9:45) KENN – Daniel Kinney 29 yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 64 yards, 5:15; KENN 9–7)
  • (3:05) WAKE – Connor Calvert 22 yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 60 yards, 2:32; WAKE 10–9)
Fourth quarter

No scoring plays

StatisticsKENNWAKE
First downs1820
Total yards307348
Rushing yards158130
Passing yards149218
Passing: Comp–Att–Int12–33–020–28–0
Time of possession24:5935:01
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kennesaw StatePassing Dexter Williams II 12/33, 149 yards
RushingColeman Bennett17 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingGabriel Benyard5 receptions, 103 yards
Wake ForestPassing Robby Ashford 20/28, 218 yards
RushingRobby Ashford18 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingEni Falayi4 receptions, 52 yards

vs Western Carolina (FCS)

Western Carolina Catamounts (FCS) (0–1) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Catamounts (FCS)030710
Demon Deacons21021042

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

  • Date: September 6
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game weather:  
  • Game attendance: 28,239
  • Referee: Garrett Dickerson
  • TV announcers (ACCNX/ESPN+): Doug Sherman (play-by-play) and Reggie Walker (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • WAKE – Robby Ashford 41-yard run (Connor Calvert kick), 5:57. Demon Deacons 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 0:57.
  • WAKE – Demond Claiborne 33-yard run (pass failed), 2:59. Demon Deacons 13–0. Drive: 2 plays, 73 yards, 0:42.
  • WAKE – Demond Claiborne 27-yard run (pass failed), 2:47. Demon Deacons 19–0. Drive: 1 play, 27 yards, 0:05.
  • WAKE Team Safety, 0:27. Demon Deacons 21–0.
Second quarter
  • WCU – Christian Lowery 23-yard field goal, 5:46. Demon Deacons 21–3. Drive: 17 plays, 74 yards, 9:10.
Third quarter
  • WAKE – Demond Claiborne 85-yard run (Connor Calvert kick), 12:29. Demon Deacons 28–3. Drive: 2 plays, 83 yards, 0:42.
  • WAKE – Sterling Berkhalter 51-yard pass from Robby Ashford (Connor Calvert kick), 7:16. Demon Deacons 35–3. Drive: 2 plays, 93 yards, 0:37.
  • WAKE – Jeremiah Melvin 27-yard pass from Deshawn Purdie (Connor Calvert kick), 1:52. Demon Deacons 42–3. Drive: 3 plays, 30 yards, 0:41.
Fourth quarter
  • WCU – Markel Townsend 1-yard run (Marcus Trout kick), 6:49. Demon Deacons 42–10. Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 10:03.
StatisticsWCUWAKE
First downs1721
Plays–yards76–23857–542
Rushes–yards33–3431–273
Passing yards204269
Passing: comp–att–int26–43–116–26–1
Turnovers23
Time of possession35:5824:02
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western CarolinaPassingBennett Judy18/32, 155 yards, INT
RushingIsaac Lee5 carries, 40 yards
ReceivingMalik Knight5 receptions, 56 yards
Wake ForestPassingRobby Ashford13/22, 227 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Demond Claiborne 10 carries, 193 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingChris Barnes6 receptions, 149 yards

vs NC State (rivalry)

NC State Wolfpack (2–0) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Wolfpack14371034
Demon Deacons14100024

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

  • Date: September 11
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Clear, 73 °F (23 °C), SE 3mph
  • Game attendance: 29,043
  • Referee: Tim Hedgepeth
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst) and Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsNCSUWAKE
First downs2412
Plays–yards76–40657–311
Rushes–yards44–20522–59
Passing yards32–20135–252
Passing: comp–att–int23–32–021–35–0
Turnovers02
Time of possession38:0521:55
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NC StatePassing CJ Bailey 23/32, 201 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Hollywood Smothers 24 carries, 164 yards
ReceivingNoah Rogers4 receptions, 52 yards
Wake ForestPassingRobby Ashford21/35, 252 yards, 2 INT
RushingDemond Claiborne12 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingChris Barnes3 receptions, 76 yards

vs No. 16 Georgia Tech

No. 16 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (4–0) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2–1) – Game summary
Quarter1234OTTotal
No. 16 Yellow Jackets30146730
Demon Deacons01733629

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union StadiumWinston-Salem, North Carolina

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather:  
  • Game attendance: 30,264
  • Referee: Darryl DeBerry
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsGTWAKE
First downs2720
Plays–yards85-41171-445
Rushes–yards42-16339-212
Passing yards248233
Passing: comp–att–int29-43-014-31-0
Turnovers10
Time of possession32:4627:14
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia TechPassingHaynes King28/42, 243 yards, TD
Rushing21 carries, 106 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Eric Rivers 8 receptions, 77 yards, TD
Wake ForestPassing Robby Ashford 13/28, 219 yards
Rushing Demond Claiborne 21 carries, 119 yards
ReceivingMicah Mays Jr.2 receptions, 65 yards

at Virginia Tech

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2–2) at Virginia Tech Hokies (2–3) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Demon Deacons3213330
Hokies779023

at Lane StadiumBlacksburg, Virginia

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (The CW): Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Will Blackmon (analyst), and Wes Bryant (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsWAKEVT
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Wake ForestPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Virginia TechPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Oregon State

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3–2) at Oregon State Beavers (0–6) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Demon Deacons15107739
Beavers0001414

at Reser StadiumCorvallis, Oregon

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • Game weather:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (The CW): Ted Robinson (play-by-play), Ryan Leaf (analyst) and Nigel Burton (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsWAKEORST
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Wake ForestPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Oregon StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

vs SMU

SMU Mustangs (5–2) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4–2) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Mustangs066012
Demon Deacons370313

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 58 °F (14 °C) • Wind: NE @ 4 mph • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 28,358
  • Referee: Justin Elliott
  • TV announcers (The CW): Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Will Blackmon (analyst) and Wes Bryant (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • (4:59) WAKE – Connor Calvert 25 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 12 yards, 3:12; Wake Forest 3–0)
Second quarter
  • (11:53) SMU – Sam Keltner 36 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 52 yards, 4:51; Tied 3–3)
  • (10:09) WAKE – Eni Falayi 12 yard pass from Robby Ashford, Connor Calvert kick (Drive: 2 plays, 14 yards, 0:41; Wake Forest 10–3)
  • (3:53) SMU – Sam Keltner 35 yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 2:49; Wake Forest 10–6)
Third quarter
  • (2:58) SMU – Shaadie Clayton-Johnson 6 yard run, Sam Keltner PAT blocked (Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, 2:54; SMU 12–10)
Fourth quarter
  • (0:00) WAKE – Connor Calvert 50 yard field goal (Drive: 3 plays, 25 yards, 0:12; Wake Forest 13–12)
StatisticsSMUWAKE
First downs817
Plays–yards67–24672–301
Rushes–yards28–7535–85
Passing yards171216
Passing: comp–att–int21–39–118–37–2
Turnovers35
Time of possession27:3832:22
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SMUPassing Kevin Jennings 21/39, 171 yards, INT
RushingChris Johnson Jr.8 carries, 29 yards
Receiving RJ Maryland 2 receptions, 51 yards
Wake ForestPassing Deshawn Purdie 14/26, 183 yards, 2 INT
RushingDemond Claiborne23 carries, 73 yards
ReceivingChris Barnes5 receptions, 66 yards

at Florida State

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5–2) at Florida State Seminoles (3–4) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Demon Deacons00077
Seminoles014141442

at Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 63 °F (17 °C) • Wind: SE at 3 mph
  • Game attendance: 63,677
  • Referee: Riley Johnson
  • TV announcers (ACCN): Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Rodney McLeod (analyst), and Victoria Arlen (sideline reporter)
  • Box score, Recap
Game information
First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter
  • FSU - Castellanos,Tommy 6 yd run (Weinberg,Jake kick), 6 plays, 80 yards
  • FSU - Singleton Jr.,Samuel 10 yd run (Weinberg,Jake kick), 7 plays, 72 yards
Third quarter
  • FSU - Sawchuk,Gavin 1 yd run (Weinberg,Jake kick), 7 plays, 47 yards
  • FSU - Sawchuk,Gavin 1 yd run (Weinberg,Jake kick), 2 plays, 40 yards
Fourth quarter
  • FSU - Pittman Jr.,Randy 7 yd run (Weinberg,Jake kick), 4 plays, 20 yards
  • FSU - Robinson,Duce 11 yd pass from Castellanos,Tommy (Weinberg,Jake kick) 4 plays, 78 yards
  • WF - Mays Jr.,Micah 6 yd pass from Purdie,Deshawn (Calvert,Connor kick) 4 plays, 19 yards
StatisticsWAKEFSU
First downs1918
Plays–yards71–24757–421
Rushes–yards40–8540–150
Passing yards162271
Passing: compattint18–31–112–17–0
Time of possession34:2425:36
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Wake ForestPassing Robby Ashford 93 yards
RushingRobby Ashford59 yards
ReceivingMicah Mays, Jr.51 yards
Florida StatePassingTommy Castellanos271 yards
RushingSamuel Singleton Jr.91 yards
ReceivingDuce Robinson148 yards

at No. 14 Virginia

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5–3) at No. 14 Virginia Cavaliers (8–1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Demon Deacons0103316
No. 14 Cavaliers33309

at Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), and Quint Kessenich (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsWAKEUVA
First downs1213
Plays–yards64–20364–327
Rushes–yards41–13930–163
Passing yards64164
Passing: comp–att–int9–23–021–34–0
Turnovers03
Time of possession31:4228:18
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Wake ForestPassingRobby Ashford7/16, 46 yards
RushingDemond Claiborne25 carries, 75 yards
ReceivingTy Clark1 catch, 22 yards
VirginiaPassingDaniel Kaelin18/28, 145 yards
RushingJ'Mari Taylor19 carries, 98 yards
ReceivingTrell Harris6 catches, 60 yards

vs North Carolina (rivalry)

North Carolina Tar Heels (0–0) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter12Total
Tar Heels0
Demon Deacons0

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 4:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (The CW): Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Will Blackmon (analyst) and Wes Bryant (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsUNCWAKE
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Wake ForestPassing
Rushing
Receiving

vs Delaware

Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (0–0) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter12Total
Fightin' Blue Hens0
Demon Deacons0

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ACCN):  
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsDELWAKE
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
DelawarePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Wake ForestPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Duke (rivalry)

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0–0) at Duke Blue Devils (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter12Total
Demon Deacons0
Blue Devils0

at Wallace Wade StadiumDurham, North Carolina

  • Date: November 29
  • Game time:  
  • Game weather:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers ( ):  
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsWAKEDUKE
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Wake ForestPassing
Rushing
Receiving
DukePassing
Rushing
Receiving

References

  1. Feldman, Bruce; Russo, Ralph D. (December 18, 2024). "Wake Forest hiring Jake Dickert as coach after Dave Clawson's unexpected exit: Sources". The Athletic . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  2. "Wake Forest Football Transfer Portal". ON3.
  3. "Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.
  4. "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports. December 16, 2024.
  5. "2025 Wake Forest Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 5, 2025.