The Clemson football team will travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina this Saturday night for a match-up against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. After thoroughly dismantling Florida State last week and leaving Tallahassee with a 16-point victory.
Our Tigers had issues finishing drives last weekend, instead settling for 7 field goal attempts and five makes by Freshman Nolan Hauser. Fellow freshman TJ Moore added a touchdown run off of a tunnel screen and the game was never in doubt.
Wake Forest, led by long-time head coach Dave Clawson was quoted this week in saying that the Tigers “are back to looking like Clemson.”
Wake is an enigma this season, but the Clemson/Wake Forest matchup always seems to deliver some weird outcomes.
Here is your preview of Clemson’s Week 7 Opponent, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-3)
Head Coach: Dave Clawson (11th Season)
Location: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC
Time: Noon
Wins against: North Carolina A&T; NC State
Losses against: Virginia; Ole Miss; Louisiana
Offense
Offensive Coordinator – Warren Ruggiero (11th Season)
In his eleventh season in Winston-Salem, Ruggiero has had sustained success across many different quarterbacks. Perfecting the “mesh” style of offense, an RPO-based offense that slowly allows plays to develop in the passing game or an option to run with either quarterback or running back.
Ruggiero’s offense has given Clemson fits, at times, over the years. But gone are Sam Hartman, who didn’t beat Clemson during his tenure, but was able to take advantage of Clemson’s defensive scheme for a lot of yards.
Wake Forest is averaging 431 total yards during the season, with 279.2 coming through the air and 151.8 on the ground. Wake has scored 30.6 points per game.
Here is a look at the projected starters for the Demon Deacons on offense:
| Position | Name (#) | Year | 2024 Statistics |
| Quarterback | Hank Bachmeier (9) | RS Senior | 112-176, 1313 yds, 7 TDs; 34 rushes, 98 yards |
| Running Back | Demond Claiborne (1) | Junior | 81 rushes, 471 yds, 6 TDs; 9 catches, 71 yds, TD |
| Wide Receiver | Donovon Greene (11) | RS Junior | 16 catches, 271 yds, 2 TDs |
| Wide Receiver | Horatio Fields (5) | RS Sophomore | 17 catches, 220 yds, 2 TDs |
| Wide Receiver | Taylor Morin (2) | RS Senior | 26 catches, 345 yds |
| Tight End | Harry Lodge (89) | RS Sophomore | 7 catches, 67 yds |
| Left Tackle | DeVonte Gordon (62) | RS Senior | |
| Left Guard | Matt Gulbin (54) | RS Junior | |
| Center | Luke Petibon (74) | Junior | |
| Right Guard | Nick Sharpe (70) | RS Junior | |
| Right Tackle | Keagen Trost (71) | RS Senior |
Having Taylor Morin, who seemingly has been in school for ten years and Donavon Greene at wide out, give Wake great matchups in the passing game. Something to watch on Saturday afternoon.
Defense
Defensive Coordinator: Brad Lambert (3rd Season)
Coach Lambert is in his third season in Winston-Salem running the defense, and he has struggled to find an identity on defense this season.
Lambert’s defense is currently giving up 31 points per game. They are giving up an average of 460.2 yards per game through 5 games this season. 168.8 yards coming on the ground and 291.4 through the air.
Here is a look at the projected starters along with their statistics from their early season slate for the Deacons defense:
| Position | Name (#) | Year | 2024 Statistics |
| Defensive End | Jasheen Davis (30) | Senior | 10 tackles, 2 TFLs, Sack |
| Defensive Tackle | Kevin Pointer (91) | RS Senior | 16 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2 Sacks, INT |
| Defensive Tackle | Bryce Ganious (55) | Senior | 15 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 Sacks |
| Defensive End | Kendron Wayman (5) | Senior | 10 tackles |
| Linebacker | Dylan Hazen (24) | RS Junior | 39 tables, 0.5 TFL, INT |
| Linebacker | Branson Combs (21) | Senior | 28 tables, TFL, Sack |
| Nickel | Davaughn Patterson (13) | RS Freshman | 20 tackles, TFL |
| Cornerback | Jamare Glasker (25) | RS Sophomore | 25 tackles, 3 TFLs, INT |
| Safety | Evan Slocum (7) | Senior | 25 tackles, TFL, FR |
| Safety | Nick Anderson (45) | Junior | 60 tackles |
| Cornerback | Capone Blue (3) | RS Senior | 17 tackles |
Wake Forest has six takeaways on the season with four of them being interceptions.
Special Teams
Here is a look at the projected starters on Special Teams for the Deacs.
| Position | Name (#) | Year | 2024 Statistics |
| Kicker | Matthew Dennis (99) | RS Junior | |
| Punter | Ivan Mora (36) | RS Senior | |
| Kick Returner | Demond Claiborne (1) | Junior | |
| Punt Returner | Taylor Morin (2) | RS Senior |
Summary
Clemson is a big favorite on the road, again. Two weeks in a row Clemson has struggled a little bit offensively. They got off to a slow start against Stanford and then did not finish drives in Tallahassee last weekend. It is all nitpicky things as this offense is better than anything Clemson has thrown out there since Trevor Lawrence was running the show. Wake Forest can put up some offensive numbers, so Clemson will have to get off to a good start again to run away with this one.
As much as Wake seems to always give Clemson a good game, I do not believe that will be the case this weekend. As the only team with a pulse that Wake has played, Ole Miss, handled the Deacs with ease (40-6). I think Clemson is better than Ole Miss.
Go Tigers! Beat the Deacons!
