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2021 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team

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2021 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
ACC Atlantic Division champion
Gator Bowl champion
Gator Bowl, W 38–10 vs. Rutgers
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionAtlantic Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 14
APNo. 15
Record11–3 (7–1 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorWarren Ruggiero (8th season)
Offensive schemeSlow mesh
Defensive coordinatorLyle Hemphill (3rd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumTruist Field at Wake Forest
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Atlantic Division
No. 15 Wake Forest xy   7 1     11 3  
No. 20 NC State   6 2     9 3  
No. 14 Clemson   6 2     10 3  
Louisville   4 4     6 7  
Florida State   4 4     5 7  
Syracuse   2 6     5 7  
Boston College   2 6     6 6  
Coastal Division
No. 13 Pittsburgh xy$   7 1     11 3  
Miami (FL)   5 3     7 5  
Virginia   4 4     6 6  
Virginia Tech   4 4     6 7  
North Carolina   3 5     6 7  
Georgia Tech   2 6     3 9  
Duke   0 8     3 9  
Championship: Pittsburgh 45, Wake Forest 21
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

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.

Preseason

[edit]

ACC poll

[edit]

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

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 37:00 p.m.Old Dominion*ACCNW 42–1025,673
September 1112:00 p.m.Norfolk State*
  • Truist Field at Wake Forest
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ACCNX/ESPN+W 41–1621,896
September 183:30 p.m.Florida State
  • Truist Field at Wake Forest
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ESPNW 35–1429,564
September 247:00 p.m.at VirginiaESPN2W 37–1738,699
October 212:30 p.m.LouisvilleNo. 24
  • Truist Field at Wake Forest
  • Winston-Salem, NC
ACCRSNW 37–3429,077
October 93:30 p.m.at SyracuseNo. 19ESPN2W 40–37 OT38,554
October 2312:00 p.m.at Army*No. 16CBSSNW 70–5638,019
October 304:00 p.m.DukedaggerNo. 13
  • Truist Field at Wake Forest
  • Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry)
ACCNW 45–731,613
November 612:00 p.m.at North Carolina*[1]No. 9ABCL 55–5850,500
November 137:30 p.m.No. 16 NC StateNo. 12
  • Truist Field at Wake Forest
  • Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry)
ACCNW 45–4234,503
November 2012:00 p.m.at ClemsonNo. 10ESPNL 27–4881,048
November 2712:00 p.m.at Boston CollegeNo. 18ESPN2W 41–1025,854
December 48:00 p.m.vs. No. 15 PittsburghNo. 16ABCL 21–4557,856
December 3112:00 p.m.vs. Rutgers*No. 17ESPNW 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.

Coaching staff

[edit]
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]

Roster

[edit]
2021 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB 0 Christian Turner  So
WR 2 Donald Stewart  Sr
WR 5 Jaquarii Roberson  Jr
WR 7 Donovan Greene  Fr
WR 9 A. T. Perry  So
QB 10 Sam Hartman  So
QB 11 Santino Marucci Fr
QB 12 Mitch Griffis Fr
WR 13 Ke'Shawn Williams Fr
RB 14 Justice Ellison Fr
QB 15 Michael Kern  Fr
QB 17 Leo Kelly  Fr
QB 18 Billy Edwards Jr. Fr
TE 20 Cameron Hite  Fr
TE 23 Brandon Chapman  Sr
WR 24 Dez Williams Fr
WR 25 Horatio Fields Fr
RB 28 Quinton Cooley Fr
WR 29 Christian Greene Fr
WR 32 Jarrett Brown  Fr
WR 34 Walker Ferguson Fr
RB 37 Will Towns Fr
WR 38 Nick Ragano Fr
WR 39 Zavier Simpson Fr
TE 40 Gavin Ellis Fr
RB 42 Zach Igwebe Fr
TE 44 Ryan Dupont Fr
OL 50 Zach Tom  Jr
OL 52 Spencer Clapp  Jr
OL 53 Je'Vionte' Nash  Sr
OL 54 Matt Gulbin Fr
OL 55 Michael Jurgens  So
OL 59 Loic Ngassam Nya  Jr
OL 60 Hampton Tanner Fr
OL 62 DeVonte Gordon  Fr
OL 63 Jack Pascual Fr
OL 67 Trey Turner  So
OL 68 Thomas Grippo Fr
OL 70 Nick Sharpe Fr
OL 71 C. J. Elmonus  Fr
OL 72 Erik Russell Fr
OL 73 Zach Vaughan Fr
OL 74 Luke Petitbon Fr
OL 75 Terrance Davis  Sr
OL 76 Jaydon Collins Fr
OL 77 George Sell Fr
OL 78 Christian Forbes Fr
OL 79 Sean Maginn  Jr
WR 80 Jahmal Banks Fr
TE 82 Trey Boll Fr
WR 83 Taylor Morin  Fr
WR 84 Jackson Hensley Fr
TE 85 Blake Whiteheart  So
TE 86 Michael Frogge Fr
WR 87 Teddy Centofanti  So
WR 88 Andy Elkins Jr.  Fr
TE 89 Alec Rowan  So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB 0 Tyriq Hardimon  Jr
DL 1 Sulaiman Kamara  Sr
DL 2 Luiji Vilain GS
DB 3 Nasir Greer Jr
DE 4 Jacorey Johns  So
LB 5 Ryan Smenda Jr. Jr
DB 6 Ja'Sir Taylor Sr
DL 7 Tyler Williams  Jr
DB 8 Isaiah Wingfield GS
DB 9 Chelan Garnes So
DB 10 DaShawn Jones Fr
DL 11 Miles Fox  Sr
LB 12 Luke Masterson  Sr
LB 15 Jaylen Hudson  Fr
DB 17 Traveon Redd  Sr
DB 18 K. J. Trujillo So
DB 20 Coby Davis  So
LB 21 Chase Jones So
DB 22 A. J. Williams  Fr
DB 23 Jarret Alston Jr.  Fr
DB 24 Gavin Holmes Fr
DB 25 J. J. Roberts Fr
LB 26 Quincy Bryant Fr
DB 27 Malik Mustapha Fr
DB 28 Zion Keith  So
DB 29 Caelen Carson Fr
DL 30 Jasheen Davis Fr
DB 32 Evan Slocum Fr
LB 34 Zach Ranson  Fr
DL 35 Kendron Wayman Fr
DB 36 Annuj Shah Jr
DB 37 Christian Masterson Fr
DB 38 Trent Nicholson Fr
DL 39 Royce Francis  So
DL 40 Rondell Bothroyd  So
DB 41 John Peterson III Fr
DL 43 B. J. Williams Fr
DL 44 Justin Williams  Fr
DB 45 Nick Anderson Fr
DB 48 Alex Murphey Jr
DB 49 Cody Cater Fr
LB 50 Dylan Hazen Fr
DL 51 Will Smart  Fr
LB 55 Max Miller Fr
LB 56 Mark Balbis Fr
LB 57 Joshua Sosanya Fr
LB 58 Chase Monroe  Jr
DL 59 Jonathan Saklad Fr
DB 80 Justin Simpkins Fr
DB 81 Anthony Borriello Fr
DB 84 Troy Hoilman Fr
DB 89 Luke Terrell Fr
DL 91 Kevin Pointer  Fr
DL 92 Bernard Gooden Fr
DL 93 Isaiah Chaney  Fr
DL 94 Zach Lohavichan Fr
DL 95 Dion Bergan Jr. Jr
DL 96 Claude Bragg Fr
DL 98 Wyatt Crespi Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 4 Nick Sciba Jr
P, K 36 Ivan Mora  Fr
LS 54 Will Cobb Fr
P, K 88 Jack Murphy  Jr
LS 90 Jacob Zhur Fr
K 99 Matthew Dennis Fr


Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Game summaries

[edit]

Old Dominion

[edit]
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

Norfolk State

[edit]
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

Florida State

[edit]
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

At Virginia

[edit]
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

Louisville

[edit]
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

At Syracuse

[edit]
1 2 3 4OT Total
No. 19 Demon Deacons 3 14 9 86 40
Orange 7 14 6 73 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

At Army

[edit]
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

Duke

[edit]
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

At North Carolina

[edit]
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

No. 16 NC State

[edit]
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

At Clemson

[edit]
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

At Boston College

[edit]
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

Rankings

[edit]
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRV241916161310131321182015
CoachesRV25201615139131221181914
CFPNot released91210181617Not released

Players drafted into the NFL

[edit]
Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
4 140 Zach Tom OG Green Bay Packers
6 214 Ja'Sir Taylor CB Los Angeles Chargers

Source:[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Preseason Forecast: Clemson Favored to Continue ACC Football Title Run". Atlantic Coast Conference. July 26, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "2021 Wake Forest Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. ^ Wolken, Dan (January 26, 2015). "ACC teams Wake Forest and North Carolina schedule non-conference matchups". USA Today.
  4. ^ "Greg Jones - Football Coach". Wake Forest University Athletics. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  5. ^ "2022 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2024.