2019 Opponent Series: Wake Forest

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2019 Opponent Series

• Aug. 29 vs. Georgia Tech
• Sept. 7 vs. Texas A&M
• Sept. 14 at Syracuse
• Sept. 21 vs. Charlotte
• Sept. 28 at North Carolina
• Oct. 12 vs. Florida State
• Oct. 19 at Louisville
• Oct. 26 vs. Boston College
• Nov. 2 vs. Wofford
• Nov. 9 at NC State

Before Dave Clawson got to Winston-Salem, Wake Forest had five consecutive losing seasons from 2009 to 2013, with only one bowl appearance coming in 2011. The Demon Deacons look to improve on what they’ve built during Clawson’s tenure.

Coaches will use the words “culture change” when describing a turnaround like the one we’ve seen at Wake Forest. Credit Clawson and his staff for creating an environment that kids want to be a part of considering Wake is a program that lacks a ton of football tradition. The players that have been around for a while are starting to step up as leaders heading into 2019.

“I think now the best programs are player-run. When you first come into a school, I think the coaches try to put in their philosophies, their standards, their culture,” Clawson noted recently. “But then after a while, either the players grab ahold of that and continue it, or it doesn't quite catch on, and those programs fizzle out.”

For Clawson, the shift to a more player-led program is the next step.

“For us to keep improving and to keep being the program that we want to be and want to become, it needs to become more and more player-led. That becomes easier the longer we're there,” Clawson said.

Quarterbacks Sam Hartman and Jamie Newman are back for a Wake Forest offense that averaged 34 points a game last year. Newman finished the 2018 season as the starter after Hartman went down with a broken leg. Clawson didn’t know who the starter was back at the ACC Kickoff in July, but as we head into the first weekend, Newman was named the starter against Utah State.

Returning starting running back Cade Carney says the team trusts both of them.

“Since I've been here, we've had to rely on two quarterbacks. It's a great thing this year we feel very confident with that. We don't have to be worried as far as whatever could happen throughout the midst of a season since I've been here, we've relied on two. I feel really good about the two that we're going into camp with,” Carney said.

Defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel was fired after the Notre Dame loss. Newly promoted defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill took his place and played a massive role in helping turn things around towards the end of the year. Senior linebacker Justin Strnad says the transition has been good over the spring and in the summer.

“We're pretty similar from a structure standpoint. I think we're going to have the ability to play a little more nickel this year. I think just the spring, along with this summer, it's been good to understand more the scheme as opposed to technique,” Stranad said.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Head coach: Dave Clawson, sixth season

Last season: Finished 7-6, defeated Memphis 37-34 in the Birmingham Bowl

Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense

Players to Watch

• Cade Carney (Running back, Sr.) -- Carney is a team captain for the 2019 season, and it’s easy to see why. He ran for 1,826 yards last year becoming the first back at Wake Forest to rush for 1,000 yards since Chris Barclay in 2005 with 16 career touchdowns. He will look to carry the load after Matt Coburn’s graduation.
• Sage Surratt (Wide receiver, R-So.) -- Greg Dortch declared for the NFL Draft at the end of last year and replacing him won’t be easy, especially considering he caught 142 receptions which ranks 9th in school history. Surratt could be the guy who’s next in line. He was Wake’s second-leading receiver with 41 receptions for 581 yards and four touchdowns as a redshirt freshman.
• Amari Henderson (Cornerback, R-Sr.) -- Henderson is a part of a secondary anchored by fellow senior Essang Bassey. The duo will look to continue the momentum they gained from the end of last year. Henderson and Bassey are tied for the most career starts at Wake Forest with 28.

Last Meeting vs. Clemson: 2018: Clemson traveled to Winston Salem and crushed the Demon Deacons 63-3 in a game where the Tigers nearly eclipsed 700 yards of total offense.

2019 Schedule 

Aug. 30 (Fri.) - vs. Utah State

Sept. 6 (Fri.) - at Rice

Sept. 12 (Thurs.) - vs. North Carolina

Sept. 21 - vs. Elon

Sept. 28 - at Boston College

Oct. 12 - vs. Louisville

Oct. 19 - vs. Florida State

Nov. 2 - vs. NC State

Nov. 9 - at Virginia Tech

Nov. 16 - at Clemson

Nov. 23 - vs. Duke

Nov. 30 - at Syracuse

*Home games in BOLD