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American college football season
The 2021 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The team was led by eighth-year head coach Dave Clawson , and played their home games at Truist Field at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina , competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Demon Deacons clinched the Atlantic Division for the first time since 2006 and appeared in the ACC Championship game against Pittsburgh.
The ACC media days were held on July 26, 2021. In the conference preseason polls, the Demon Deacons were predicted to finish in fifth place in the Atlantic Division.[ 1]
Atlantic
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Clemson
1,028 (146)
2
NC State
804 (1)
3
Boston College
638
4
Florida State
510
5
Wake Forest
472
6
Louisville
462
7
Syracuse
202
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance 7:00 p.m. Old Dominion * ACCN W 42–1025,673
September 11 12:00 p.m. Norfolk State * Truist Field at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC ACCNX/ESPN+ W 41–1621,896
September 18 3:30 p.m. Florida State Truist Field at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC ESPN W 35–1429,564
7:00 p.m. at Virginia ESPN2 W 37–1738,699
October 2 12:30 p.m. Louisville No. 24 Truist Field at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC ACCRSN W 37–3429,077
October 9 3:30 p.m. at Syracuse No. 19 ESPN2 W 40–37 OT 38,554
October 23 12:00 p.m. at Army * No. 16 CBSSN W 70–5638,019
October 30 4:00 p.m. Duke No. 13 Truist Field at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry ) ACCN W 45–731,613
November 6 12:00 p.m. at North Carolina * [1] No. 9 ABC L 55–5850,500
November 13 7:30 p.m. No. 16 NC State No. 12 Truist Field at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry ) ACCN W 45–4234,503
November 20 12:00 p.m. at Clemson No. 10 ESPN L 27–4881,048
November 27 12:00 p.m. at Boston College No. 18 ESPN2 W 41–1025,854
December 4 8:00 p.m. vs. No. 15 Pittsburgh No. 16 ABC L 21–4557,856
12:00 p.m. vs. Rutgers * No. 17 ESPN W 38–1028,508
Source:[ 2]
^ The game against North Carolina , a fellow member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , was played as a non-conference game and did not count in the league standings.[ 3] This was done because the two rivals otherwise only play once every six years due to conference divisional alignment.
Position
Name
First Year at Wake
Head coach
Dave Clawson
2014
Asst head coach / Receivers
Kevin Higgins
2014
AHC Defense/defensive line
Dave Cohen
2014
Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks
Warren Ruggiero
2014
Defensive coordinator / Safeties
Lyle Hemphill
2017
Special teams coordinator / tight ends
Wayne Lineburg
2017
Assistant special teams coordinator / Nickelbacks
Ryan Crawford
2018
Running backs
John Hunter
2014
Offensive Line
Nick Tabacca
2014
Cornerbacks
Paul Williams
2020
Linebackers
Greg Jones
2016
Special teams analyst
LaTroy Lewis
2021
Source:[ 4]
1
2
3
4
Total
Monarchs
3
0
0
7
10
Demon Deacons
14
14
7
7
42
Statistics
Statistics
ODU
WAKE
First downs
17
20
Total yards
272
352
Rushing yards
145
164
Passing yards
127
188
Turnovers
2
1
Time of possession
32:19
27:41
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Old Dominion
Passing
Hayden Wolff
11/17, 88 yards, TD
Rushing
Elijah Davis
12 rushes, 69 yards
Receiving
Stone Smartt
3 receptions, 26 yards
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
18/27, 188 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Christian Beal-Smith
11 rushes, 74 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
A. T. Perry
4 receptions, 81 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Spartans
3
6
0
7
16
Demon Deacons
7
17
17
0
41
Statistics
Statistics
NORF
WAKE
First downs
19
22
Total yards
336
413
Rushing yards
141
161
Passing yards
195
252
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
38:39
21:21
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Norfolk State
Passing
Juwan Carter
19/31, 195 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
J. J. Davis
6 rushes, 42 yards
Receiving
Justin Smith
5 receptions, 66 yards
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
17/25, 244 yards, TD
Rushing
Christian Beal-Smith
9 rushes, 60 yards, TD
Receiving
Jaquarii Roberson
4 receptions, 97 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Seminoles
7
7
0
0
14
Demon Deacons
14
13
8
0
35
Statistics
Statistics
FSU
WAKE
First downs
16
27
Total yards
317
484
Rushing yards
91
225
Passing yards
226
259
Turnovers
6
2
Time of possession
20:47
39:13
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Florida State
Passing
McKenzie Milton
11/16, 119 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Treshaun Ward
6 rushes, 48 yards
Receiving
Ontaria Wilson
3 receptions, 91 yards, TD
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
22/31, 259 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Christian Beal-Smith
19 rushes, 95 yards, TD
Receiving
A. T. Perry
7 receptions, 155 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Demon Deacons
10
10
14
3
37
Cavaliers
0
3
14
0
17
Statistics
Statistics
WAKE
UVA
First downs
24
31
Total yards
473
506
Rushing yards
203
99
Passing yards
270
407
Turnovers
0
2
Time of possession
29:27
30:33
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
17/29, 270 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Justice Ellison
13 rushes, 86 yards, TD
Receiving
Jaquarii Roberson
4 receptions, 91 yards
Virginia
Passing
Brennan Armstrong
33/59, 407 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Mike Hollins
6 rushes, 36 yards
Receiving
Dontayvion Wicks
8 receptions, 114 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Cardinals
10
7
0
17
34
No. 24 Demon Deacons
10
10
7
10
37
Statistics
Statistics
LOU
WAKE
First downs
25
26
Total yards
517
501
Rushing yards
208
177
Passing yards
309
324
Turnovers
2
1
Time of possession
34:36
25:24
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Louisville
Passing
Malik Cunningham
19/26, 309 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Jalen Mitchell
17 rushes, 89 yards
Receiving
Tyler Harrell
1 reception, 75 yards, TD
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
23/40, 324 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Justice Ellison
15 rushes, 67 yards, TD
Receiving
Jaquarii Roberson
6 receptions, 135 yards
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
No. 19 Demon Deacons
3
14
9
8 6
40
Orange
7
14
6
7 3
37
Statistics
Statistics
WAKE
SYR
First downs
21
33
Total yards
426
514
Rushing yards
96
354
Passing yards
330
160
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
26:10
33:50
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
19/32, 330 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing
Christian Beal-Smith
17 rushes, 63 yards, TD
Receiving
A. T. Perry
3 receptions, 137 yards, 3 TD
Syracuse
Passing
Garrett Shrader
15/27, 160 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Garret Shrader
29 rushes, 178 yards, TD
Receiving
Courtney Jackson
5 receptions, 64 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 16 Demon Deacons
14
14
21
21
70
Black Knights
7
14
14
21
56
Statistics
Statistics
WAKE
ARMY
First downs
22
31
Total yards
638
595
Rushing yards
180
416
Passing yards
458
179
Turnovers
0
2
Time of possession
17:17
42:43
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
23/29, 458 yards, 5 TD
Rushing
Christian Beal-Smith
8 rushes, 71 yards, TD
Receiving
Jaquarii Roberson
8 receptions, 157 yards, 3 TD
Army
Passing
Jabari Laws
9/11, 140 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Tyhier Tyler
15 rushes, 104 yards, TD
Receiving
Isaiah Alston
6 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Blue Devils
0
0
0
7
7
No. 13 Demon Deacons
14
14
10
7
45
Statistics
Statistics
DUKE
WAKE
First downs
12
29
Total yards
315
677
Rushing yards
160
266
Passing yards
155
411
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
23:55
36:05
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Duke
Passing
Gunnar Holmberg
10/18, 110 yards
Rushing
Mataeo Durant
20 rushes, 103 yards
Receiving
Jalon Calhoun
3 receptions, 50 yards
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
24/37, 402 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Christian Turner
10 rushes, 75 yards
Receiving
A.T. Perry
7 receptions, 116 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 9 Demon Deacons
10
21
17
7
55
Tar Heels
14
10
10
24
58
Statistics
Statistics
WAKE
UNC
First downs
35
31
Total yards
615
546
Rushing yards
217
330
Passing yards
398
216
Turnovers
2
1
Time of possession
26:27
33:33
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
25/51, 398 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Justice Ellison
13 carries, 81 yards
Receiving
Jaquarii Roberson
7 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TD
North Carolina
Passing
Sam Howell
16/26, 216 yards, TD
Rushing
Ty Chandler
22 carries, 213 yards, 4 TD
Receiving
Antoine Green
6 receptions, 83 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 16 Wolfpack
6
14
7
15
42
No. 12 Demon Deacons
7
17
7
14
45
Statistics
Statistics
NCST
WAKE
First downs
25
27
Total yards
482
406
Rushing yards
74
116
Passing yards
408
290
Turnovers
3
3
Time of possession
28:20
31:40
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NC State
Passing
Devin Leary
37/59, 408 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Ricky Person Jr.
8 rushes, 40 yards
Receiving
Emeka Emezie
10 receptions, 133 yards, 2 TD
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
20/47, 290 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
Rushing
Justice Ellison
17 rushes, 57 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
A. T. Perry
5 receptions, 73 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 10 Demon Deacons
0
10
3
14
27
Tigers
10
7
21
10
48
Statistics
Statistics
WAKE
CLEM
First downs
24
25
Total yards
406
543
Rushing yards
36
333
Passing yards
370
210
Turnovers
3
3
Time of possession
26:08
33:52
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
27/43, 312 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Quinton Cooley
8 rushes, 41 yards, TD
Receiving
A. T. Perry
5 reception, 113 yards
Clemson
Passing
DJ Uiagalelei
11/19, 208 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Kobe Pace
24 rushes, 191 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Beaux Collins
4 reception, 137 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 18 Demon Deacons
14
10
10
7
41
Eagles
7
3
0
0
10
Statistics
Statistics
WAKE
BC
First downs
25
9
Total yards
413
182
Rushing yards
177
163
Passing yards
236
19
Turnovers
1
3
Time of possession
36:13
23:47
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Wake Forest
Passing
Sam Hartman
20/32, 236 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing
Christian Turner
18 rushes, 54 yards, TD
Receiving
A. T. Perry
4 receptions, 81 yards, 2 TD
Boston College
Passing
Phil Jurkovec
3/11, 19 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Phil Jurkovec
11 rushes, 85 yards
Receiving
Trae Berry
1 reception, 15 yards, TD
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP — — — RV 24 19 16 16 13 10 13 13 21 18 20 15 Coaches — — — RV 25 20 16 15 13 9 13 12 21 18 19 14 CFP Not released 9 12 10 18 16 17 Not released
Players drafted into the NFL [ edit ]
Source:[ 5]
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