Wake Forest is already showing its hand a little.
At the ACC Kickoff event, Jake Dickert laid out more than just the mindset around the program entering the season. He also gave a glimpse of how the Deacons may actually function on the field, and that part of the story could end up being just as important as the roster turnover.
There’s plenty to sort through on both sides of the ball. The offense has a new look with transfer quarterback Gio Lopez, while the defense brings back a lot of familiar pieces. That combination makes Wake Forest one of those teams worth watching closely once camp gets rolling, because the structure of the team could look very different from what it was last year.
Still, the message from the players was clear: they trust Dickert’s direction.
Lopez appears to have settled in quickly, and a big reason for that is his connection with offensive coordinator Rob Ezell, who worked with him at South Alabama. That familiarity has helped Lopez get comfortable in the system, and it has also allowed him to take on more of a leadership role even though he’s new to the program.
He also made one thing clear when asked whether he’d rather run or throw. Lopez said he’d rather throw.
That matters for Wake Forest’s offense, especially when you compare it to Robby Ashford’s tendency to look for running lanes. A quarterback who is more comfortable throwing could open up more options in how the Deacons call plays.
Up front, Dickert pointed to the offensive line as another key piece, and he was especially complimentary of the depth there. He specifically mentioned Clinton Richard and George Steih. The opening-game lineup will be worth watching, because that group has long been central to the way Dickert’s teams operate.
On the other side, the defense sounds like a unit that already knows how to lean on its chemistry. Langston Hardy talked up the connectivity of the group and noted that Wake Forest has a lot of returning players, including all starters on the defensive line. He also described the variety of looks and blitzes that Scottie Hazelton likes to use, which keeps offenses guessing and gives Hardy more freedom to work.
Davaughn Patterson added another layer to that picture. Though he’s listed as a defensive back, he emphasized that his biggest asset is versatility and the ability to play multiple spots. That kind of flexibility should make him useful in whatever situation Dickert needs to solve from week to week.
For a team with this much turnover, that kind of confidence stands out. Wake Forest seems to know what it wants to be, and the players sound comfortable with the roles they’ll be asked to fill.
Fall camp is only a couple of weeks away. The Deacons open the 2026 season on Thursday, September 3, when they host the Akron Zips at 7 pm ET at Allegacy Stadium.