The 2017 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Dave Clawson, and played their home games at BB&T Field. Wake Forest competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference as they have since the league's inception in 1953. They finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in ACC play to finish in a three-way tie for third place in the Atlantic Division. They were invited to the Belk Bowl, where they defeated Texas A&M.
Recruits
Schedule
Coaching staff Head coach Dave Clawson 2014 Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks Warren Ruggiero 2014 Asst head coach / Receivers Kevin Higgins 2014 Defensive coordinator / Cornerbacks Jay Sawvel 2017 Special teams coordinator / tight ends Wayne Lineburg 2017 Defensive line Dave Cohen 2014 Running backs John Hunter 2014 Offensive line Nick Tabacca 2014 Safeties Lyle Hemphill 2017 Outside linebackers Brad Sherrod 2017 Source:
Roster 2017 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team rosterQuarterbacks 2 Kendall Hinton – sophomore (6'0, 195) 10 John Wolford – senior (6'1, 200) 11 Kyle Driscoll – junior (6'1, 205) 12 Jamie Newman – freshman (6'4, 235) 13 Tayvone Bowers – freshman (6'1, 225) 18 Matthew Considine – freshman (6'6, 195)
Running backs 5 Arkeem Byrd – freshman (6'1, 190) 20 Tyler Bell – junior (5'11, 210) 21 Isaiah Robinson – junior (5'10, 220) 22 Matt Colburn II – junior (5'10, 200) 26 Christian Beal – freshman (5'10, 180) 34 Will Drawdy – freshman (6'0, 180) 36 Cade Carney – sophomore (5'11, 215) 49 Trey Ndlovu – sophomore (5'7, 230)
Wide receivers 1 Tabari Hines – junior (5'10, 175) 7 Scotty Washington – junior (6'5, 225) 9 Chuck Wade, Jr. – junior (6'0, 200) 14 Sage Surratt – freshman (6'3, 210) 15 Cortez Lewis – junior (6'1, 205) 17 Alex Bachman – junior (6'0, 190) 25 James Sriraman– sophomore (6'3, 200) 80 Waydale Jones – freshman (6'4, 185) 81 Ian Driscoll – freshman (5'10, 175) 82 Jaquarii Roberson – freshman (6'1, 165) 83 Davis Johnson – freshman (5'11, 180) 88 Steven Claude – sophomore (6'2, 195) 89 Greg Dortch – freshman (5'9, 180)
Tight ends 23 Brandon Chapman – freshman (6'5, 250) 41 Devin Pike – senior (6'6, 250) 44 LaRonde' Liverpool – freshman (6'3, 245) 84 Jaren Lubrano – freshman (6'1, 200) 85 Cam Serigne – senior (6'3, 240) 86 Jack Freudenthal – sophomore (6'3, 230) 87 Thomas Cole – freshman (6'5, 250)
Punters 7 Mike Weaver – senior (6'1, 190) 48 Dom Maggio – sophomore (6'3, 185)
Offensive lineman 55 A'Lique Terry – senior (6'1, 275) 56 Spencer Clapp – freshman (6'6, 280) 58 Tyler Watson – freshman (6'5, 290) 59 Loic Nya – freshman (6'3, 275) 60 Taleni Suhren – freshman (6'5, 290) 63 Je'Vionte' Nash – freshman (6'3, 285) 65 Zach Tom – freshman (6'4, 290) 66 Goran Jovanovic – freshman (6'4, 295) 68 Patrick Osterhage – junior (6'4, 290) 70 Ryan Anderson – junior (6'6, 305) 71 Nathan Gilliam – sophomore (6'5, 290) 73 Jake Benzinger – freshman (6'7, 295) 74 Phil Haynes – sophomore (6'4, 305) 75 Justin Herron – junior (6'5, 290) 76 Allan Rappleyea – freshman (6'5, 270) 79 Sean Maginn – freshman (6'3, 280)
Defensive lineman 14 Wendell Dunn – senior (6'3, 250) 18 Carlos Basham Jr. – freshman (6'5, 275) 38 Zander Zimmer – freshman (6'4, 235) 45 Paris Black – sophomore (6'3, 255) 48 Willie Yarbary – sophomore (6'2, 285) 51 Chris Calhoun – junior (6'4, 250) 53 Duke Ejiofor – senior (6'4, 275) 54 Elontae Bateman – sophomore (6'2, 290) 56 Deon Young – graduate (6'1, 315) 90 Sulaiman Kamara – freshman (6'2, 290) 91 Mike Allen – freshman (6'5, 235) 92 Adam Winter – freshman (6'3, 250) 93 Zeek Rodney – junior (6'1, 305) 94 Manny Walker – freshman (6'4, 230) 95 Connor Hebbeler – freshman (6'2, 250)
Placekickers 7 Mike Weaver – senior (6'1, 190) 88 Zach Murphy – freshman (6'0, 180) 97 Ben Brown – sophomore (6'2, 170)
Linebackers 6 Jaboree Williams – senior (6'0, 245) 23 Justin Strnad – sophomore (6'1, 230) 30 Ja'Cquez Williams – freshman (6'2, 210) 32 Jeff Burley – freshman (6'2, 230) 34 Demetrius Kemp – junior (6'1, 220) 35 Nate Mays – sophomore (6'1, 225) 42 Jake Simpson – freshman (6'0, 210) 43 Connor Miller – freshman (6'2, 225) 44 Kalin McNeil – junior (6'1, 220) 46 DJ Taylor – freshman (6'1, 225) 50 Grant Dawson – senior (6'1, 225) 58 Chase Monroe – freshman (6'2, 210) 96 Jack Rielly – freshman (5'10, 190) 99 Augustus Fortune – freshman (6'0, 215)
Defensive backs 2 Cam Glenn – junior (6'1, 200) 3 Jessie Bates – sophomore (6'2, 195) 4 Amari Henderson – sophomore (6'1, 185) 5 Cedric Jiles – graduate (5'10, 180) 12 Luke Masterson – freshman (6'2, 210) 13 Malik Grate – freshman (6'0, 170) 17 Traveon Redd – sophomore (6'0, 195) 20 Coby Davis – freshman (5'11, 185) 21 Essang Bassey – sophomore (5'10, 185) 24 Ja'Sir Taylor – freshman (5'10, 180) 25 Troy Simon – freshman (6'0, 190) 27 Tyriq Hardimon – freshman (6'0, 200) 28 Christopher Pearcey – freshman (5'11, 200) 29 DeAndre' Delaney – freshman (6'3, 210) 37 Thomas Dillon – junior (5'10, 180) 39 Keegan Good – freshman (6'0, 190) 40 Justin Bartee – freshman (5'10, 210)
Long snappers 15 Garrett Wilson – junior (6'3, 210) 52 Dayton Diemel – sophomore (5'10, 215)
Game summaries
Presbyterian
Statistics PRESWAKE First downs 12 28 Total yards 248 487 Rushing yards 207 248 Passing yards 41 239 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 32:21 27:39 Team Category Player Statistics Presbyterian Passing Ben Cheek 2/9, 41 yards, INT Rushing C. J. Marable 16 rushes, 162 yards Receiving DarQuez Watson 1 reception, 30 yards Wake Forest Passing Kendall Hinton 7/8, 124 yards, 2 TD Rushing Arkeem Byrd 7 rushes, 75 yards Receiving Greg Dortch 4 receptions, 55 yards, 2 TD
At Boston College
Statistics WAKEBC First downs 15 19 Total yards 309 305 Rushing yards 158 142 Passing yards 151 163 Turnovers 0 4 Time of possession 33:13 26:47 Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing John Wolford 13/19, 151 yards, TD Rushing John Wolford 20 rushes, 92 yards, TD Receiving Greg Dortch 6 receptions, 56 yards, TD Boston College Passing Anthony Brown Jr. 11/29, 119 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Thadd Smith 5 rushes, 46 yards Receiving Jeff Smith 5 receptions, 56 yards
Utah State
Statistics USUWAKE First downs 11 26 Total yards 267 588 Rushing yards 42 291 Passing yards 225 297 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 24:00 36:00 Team Category Player Statistics Utah State Passing Jordan Love 6/13, 171 yards, TD Rushing Eltoro Allen 13 rushes, 20 yards Receiving Gerold Bright 1 reception, 77 yards, TD Wake Forest Passing John Wolford 12/22, 242 yards, 2 TD Rushing Arkeem Byrd 19 rushes, 120 yards, TD Receiving Tabari Hines 5 receptions, 129 yards
At Appalachian State
Statistics WAKEAPP First downs 18 27 Total yards 344 494 Rushing yards 168 122 Passing yards 176 372 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 24:16 35:44 Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing John Wolford 14/27, 176 yards, 2 TD Rushing John Wolford 13 rushes, 77 yards Receiving Scotty Washington 4 receptions, 79 yards Appalachian State Passing Taylor Lamb 26/50, 372 yards, 2 TD Rushing Terrence Upshaw 15 rushes, 86 yards Receiving T. J. Watkins 3 receptions, 102 yards, TD
Florida State
Statistics FSUWAKE First downs 15 17 Total yards 270 367 Rushing yards 149 96 Passing yards 121 271 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 34:41 25:19 Team Category Player Statistics Florida State Passing James Blackman 11/21, 121 yards, TD Rushing Jacques Patrick 19 rushes, 120 yards, TD Receiving Auden Tate 2 receptions, 47 yards, TD Wake Forest Passing John Wolford 24/34, 271 yards, INT Rushing John Wolford 19 rushes, 63 yards, TD Receiving Greg Dortch 10 receptions, 110 yards
At No. 2 Clemson
Statistics WAKECLEM First downs 16 25 Total yards 336 453 Rushing yards 133 190 Passing yards 203 263 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 24:55 35:05 Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing Kendall Hinton 14/30, 203 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kendall Hinton 24 rushes, 92 yards Receiving Greg Dortch 5 receptions, 78 yards Clemson Passing Kelly Bryant 21/29, 200 yards, TD, INT Rushing Travis Etienne 15 rushes, 67 yards, TD Receiving Hunter Renfrow 6 receptions, 61 yards
At Georgia Tech
Statistics WAKEGT First downs 20 29 Total yards 362 495 Rushing yards 110 427 Passing yards 252 68 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 24:02 35:58 Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing John Wolford 17/30, 252 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Cade Carney 19 rushes, 92 yards Receiving Greg Dortch 8 receptions, 125 yards Georgia Tech Passing TaQuon Marshall 5/11, 68 yards Rushing TaQuon Marshall 23 rushes, 163 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ricky Jeune 3 receptions, 44 yards
Louisville
Statistics LOUWAKE First downs 30 26 Total yards 523 625 Rushing yards 191 164 Passing yards 332 461 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 33:59 26:01 Team Category Player Statistics Louisville Passing Lamar Jackson 27/44, 330 yards, TD, INT Rushing Lamar Jackson 27 rushes, 161 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jaylen Smith 6 receptions, 73 yards Wake Forest Passing John Wolford 28/34, 461 yards, 5 TD Rushing Matt Colburn 24 rushes, 134 yards Receiving Greg Dortch 10 receptions, 167 yards, 4 TD
At No. 5 Notre Dame
Statistics WAKEND First downs 34 30 Total yards 587 710 Rushing yards 239 380 Passing yards 348 330 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:07 31:53 Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing John Wolford 28/45, 331 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Matt Colburn 20 rushes, 120 yards, TD Receiving Alex Bachman 8 receptions, 116 yards, TD Notre Dame Passing Brandon Wimbush 15/30, 280 yards, TD Rushing Brandon Wimbush 12 rushes, 110 yards, 2 TD Receiving Chase Claypool 9 receptions, 180 yards, TD
At Syracuse
Statistics WAKESYR First downs 33 33 Total yards 734 621 Rushing yards 371 178 Passing yards 363 443 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:16 29:44 Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing John Wolford 25/38, 363 yards, 3 TD Rushing Matt Colburn 31 rushes, 237 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tabari Hines 9 receptions, 124 yards Syracuse Passing Zack Mahoney 33/60, 384 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Moe Neal 12 rushes, 86 yards Receiving Steve Ishmael 14 receptions, 145 yards, TD
No. 25 NC State
Statistics NCSTWAKE First downs 28 18 Total yards 502 334 Rushing yards 175 87 Passing yards 327 247 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 41:07 18:53 Team Category Player Statistics NC State Passing Ryan Finley 34/52, 327 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jaylen Samuels 7 rushes, 50 yards, TD Receiving Kelvin Harmon 8 receptions, 105 yards Wake Forest Passing John Wolford 19/28, 247 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Matt Colburn 12 rushes, 38 yards, TD Receiving Tabari Hines 8 receptions, 139 yards, 3 TD
Duke
Statistics DUKEWAKE First downs 22 14 Total yards 443 336 Rushing yards 97 145 Passing yards 346 191 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 37:10 22:50 Team Category Player Statistics Duke Passing Daniel Jones 25/44, 346 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Shaun Wilson 17 rushes, 38 yards Receiving T. J. Rahming 8 receptions, 90 yards Wake Forest Passing John Wolford 16/33, 191 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing John Wolford 12 rushes, 48 yards Receiving Alex Bachman 3 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Vs. Texas A&M (Belk Bowl)
Statistics WAKETAMU First downs 31 32 Total yards 646 614 Rushing yards 246 115 Passing yards 400 499 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 30:10 29:50 Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing John Wolford 32/49, 400 yards, 4 TD Rushing Matt Colburn 21 rushes, 150 yards, TD Receiving Scotty Washington 9 receptions, 138 yards, TD Texas A&M Passing Nick Starkel 42/63, 499 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Trayveon Williams 7 rushes, 65 yards, TD Receiving Christian Kirk 13 receptions, 189 yards, 3 TD
2018 NFL draft
Player Team Round Pick # Position Jessie Bates Cincinnati Bengals 2nd 54 S Duke Ejiofor Houston Texans 6th 177 DE
References