State of the Programs
Virginia Tech | Georgia Tech | Boston College | Syracuse | Miami
Season Review
Record: 3-9 (1-7 ACC)
Head Coach: Dave Clawson
| Passing | Rushing | Total Offense | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Split | G | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg |
| Offense | 12 | 19.7 | 34.8 | 56.6 | 228.3 | 1.1 | 34.8 | 105.7 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 69.5 | 333.9 | 4.8 |
| Defense | 12 | 16.6 | 26.8 | 61.8 | 202.5 | 1.4 | 38.5 | 161.8 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 65.3 | 364.3 | 5.6 |
| Difference | +3.1 | +8.0 | -5.2 | +25.8 | -0.3 | -3.7 | -56.1 | -1.2 | -0.3 | +4.2 | -30.4 | -0.8 | |
As we enter Dave Clawson’s third season as Wake Forest head coach, expect to see a more experienced Wake Forest product out there. On the bright side for last season, the Deacons won an ACC game 3-0 against Boston College so there’s always room to progress in the conference win column. The Demon Deacons lost 5 seniors (KJ Brent, Dylan Intemann, Zach Dancel, Brandon Chubb, & Hunter Williams) listed as starters on their depth chart, on both sides of the ball.
They were competitive with some of the better ACC teams, losing 24-16 to Florida State and 20-19 to Louisville, but the Demon Deacons lacked the offensive prowess to overcome many of last season’s obstacles. The Demon Deacons were 13th in the ACC last season in scoring with 17.4 points per game, last in rushing yards per game with 105.2 yards per game, and 12th in total yards per game with 333 yards per game.
Key Players Returning
Offense: Kendall Hinton | Quarterback
The redshirt freshman wasn’t as efficient as starter John Wolford was in 2015, but he was enough of a dual threat quarterback to earn a place in the Wake Forest offense going forward. Even if Clawson doesn’t name Hinton starter for the season, it would be difficult from an offensive standpoint to leave Hinton out of the offense entirely.
Hinton rushed for 390 yards and 7 rushing touchdowns last season and threw 929 passing yards for 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in just his first official season as a Demon Deacon.
| Passing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | AY/A | TD | Int | Rate |
| 2015 | Wake Forest | ACC | FR | QB | 9 | 93 | 177 | 52.5 | 929 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 4 | 5 | 98.4 |
| Career | Wake Forest | 93 | 177 | 52.5 | 929 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 4 | 5 | 98.4 | ||||
Defense: Brad Watson | Defensive Back
Watson enters his senior season coming off a junior campaign that showed progress as a defensive back. Watson lead the team in solo tackles (47), had a team high in interceptions (2), and managed 2.5 tackles for loss. Watson saw a jump in playing time last season and made the most of it.
Look for Watson to stand out even more against a more experienced Wake Forest defense as they look to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2011 when newly hired Baylor coach Jim Grobe was around.
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| 2013 | Wake Forest | ACC | FR | CB | 4 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2014 | Wake Forest | ACC | SO | CB | 10 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2015 | Wake Forest | ACC | JR | DB | 12 | 47 | 25 | 72 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Career | Wake Forest | 66 | 32 | 98 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
Key Newcomer
Taleni Suhren | Offensive Line
Suhren was touted by 247sports.com as the 27th best player in the state of North Carolina at 6’5″, 290 pounds, something that’s not easy to accomplish at the offensive linemen position. Look for Suhren to make an instant impact on a team that struggled in the running game and is in need of some help blocking up front. Wake Forest features 2 senior and only 4 junior offensive linemen on the roster so expect Suhren’s number to be called soon.
Season Preview
Record: 5-7 (2-6 ACC) | 6th in Atlantic
This Wake Forest team shouldn’t be taken lightly in 2016, they should be a competitive bunch. They’re a very young and underrated team with a chip on their shoulder that says “Bowl Season”. They face a favorable schedule of foes including Indiana, who they lost to 31-24 last season, as well as the Syracuse game on October 8th and the Boston College game to close out their schedule on November 26.
|
Tulane |
W |
|
@Duke |
L |
|
Delaware |
W |
|
@Indiana |
L |
|
@NC State |
L |
|
Syracuse |
W |
|
@Florida State |
L |
|
Army |
W |
|
UVA |
W |
|
@Louisville |
L |
|
Clemson |
L |
|
Boston College |
L |
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