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Could the Demon Deacons Make A Splash in the ACC in 2019?

By Joseph Ochoa

WINSTON SALEM, NC - SEPTEMBER 22: Sam Hartman #10 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons drops back to pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during their game at BB&T Field on September 22, 2018 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
WINSTON SALEM, NC - SEPTEMBER 22: Sam Hartman #10 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons drops back to pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during their game at BB&T Field on September 22, 2018 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Wake Forest Has Improved From Where it Was in 2013

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons were a total mess when head coach David Clawson took the helm in 2014. The season before the team finished with a 4-8 record and were considered one of the worst teams in the ACC

After a 3-9 season during his first year and second year, Clawson has coached up the Demon Deacons and built a strong recruiting philosophy and built a solid team in Winston-Salem.

The Demon Deacons have now made three straight bowl games and have won all of them, including a Belk Bowl shootout involving the Texas A&M Aggies with the Demon Deacons winning the game 55-52.

Demon Deacons Have Multiple Players on Watch Lists

The Demon Deacons, who had a disappointing 7-6 season following an 8-5 campaign in 2017 are not going to be completely depleted on the football field as the team has brought back some talent to the roster. Some of the players returning are even being seen on watch lists for multiple awards.

Essang Bassey, a senior cornerback, is on both the Bronco Nagurski and Jim Thorpe Awards, which are given to the best defensive player and best defensive back in college football respectively. Bassey has more than 100 tackles for his career to go along with 4 interceptions, including returning one for a touchdown in two straight seasons.

Other players listed for awards from the team include senior running back Cade Carney (Walker Award, Wuerffel Award), senior tight end Jack Freudenthal (John Mackey Award), sixth-year offensive tackle Justin Herron (Outland Award), sophomore kicker Nick Sciba (Lou Groza Award) and senior linebacker Justin Strnad (Butkus Award).

How Does the Schedule Look for Wake Forest?

The seems to be in favor of the Demon Deacons, but as we all know, just cause a game looks easy on the schedule doesn’t mean it will be later on.

The toughest game on the schedule by far will be against the defending national champion Clemson Tigers. While there is a chance for an upset, the game is taking place in Death Valley, and with most of the team’s offensive talent, including Trevor Lawrence and Tee Higgins, Wake Forest will have a very tough time.

The rest of the schedule will be about average that could go either way as most of the teams were about .500 or worse the prior season. The second toughest challenge will be against the NC State Wolfpack, who Wake Forest beat in a nailbiter at Carter-Finley Stadium last season 27-23.

This season has potential to be a solid season and I could absolutely see this team winning eight games before the bowl game, and this is going to be the best chance for the team to do it, as most of the team’s senior leadership will be leaving after this season.

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