Wake Forest spent this offseason trying to answer a question it never really settled a year ago: what exactly is this offense supposed to be, and who is it supposed to be with? Through 12 days of fall camp, the answer sounds a lot clearer.
Last season opened with an attack that never seemed to find its footing. Outside of the “Demond Claiborne save us” moments, it was a grind early on.
The offense looked uncertain, bouncing between identities and still searching for something that would stick. It wasn’t just that things were hard - they rarely looked clean.
By the end of the year, the picture had changed. Wake Forest leaned into running through defenses.
Robby Ashford’s accuracy had its issues, but if the staff needed him to use his legs and steal a few yards, he usually gave them more than asked. Two-running-back looks became a constant because of the tight end injuries, screen game production stayed limited, and the offense found enough downfield shots to keep defenses honest.
And when the offense needed points, Connor Calvert was there - sometimes for one kick, sometimes for three, as in the Virginia game.
Now, the Deacs are entering camp with far less uncertainty at the most important spot on the field. There is no quarterback battle this summer, and that matters. North Carolina transfer Gio Lopez has been the clear top option since arriving in January, and that stability has let the rest of the offense settle in around him.
“We certainly know who we're going to be,” said offensive coordinator Rob Ezell after practice. “It's really now doing those tough personnel meetings, and we're doing some this week, trying to get guys in their spots.”
That clarity has shown up in the play of Carlos Hernandez, who has been one of the standouts of camp. The sense around practice is that he’s making something happen almost every day.
“Confidence plays a huge role,” explained Ezell. “He's sure of himself, he knows what to do.
Also his connection with the quarterback, it's greatly improved. His overall knowledge of the offense is probably ahead of where we were last year.
Running the same routes as last year, you get used to the timing. Confidence goes both ways when you're talking about throwing the football.
It's confidence with the guy throwing the ball, who am I throwing to? If I'm playing wideout, who is throwing to me?
It's one of the things the whole group has gotten better at.”
In Other News...
Wake Forest Scrimmage Exposed What Jake Dickert Still Has To Fix
Wake Forests scrimmage was less about the box score and more about whether the Demon Deacons could handle the little things that decide games in August and beyond. Jake Dickert made it clear the staff wanted to see execution and situational responses, a useful checkpoint for a team still trying to build habits, and the day offered a mix of encouraging flashes and familiar cleanup work.
The encouraging part came from younger players such as Gio Lopez, who stood out in a setting built to reveal who is ready for more. The concern, though, was just as easy to spot, with holding penalties among the recurring issues the staff still has to address, and Dickerts group will keep attacking those details in the practices ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forests Quarterback Battle Just Took A More Intriguing Turn
Wake Forests lighter practice session ahead of its second fall camp scrimmage still offered a useful snapshot of where the quarterback race stands. The focus was on the basics, from fumble recovery work to position drills, but there were enough live moments to suggest the competition is starting to sharpen. Center Will Way, receiver Drayden Dickmann and defensive linemen Cam Hardy and Tyler Walton all had their moments, adding to the sense that this was more than just a routine camp day.
Gio Lopez, though, was the name that seemed to matter most. He looked more comfortable operating the offense and delivered a couple of notable plays that will only add to the interest around the battle under center. With fall camp moving toward its next scrimmage, Wake Forest is still gathering clues rather than answers, but Lopezs progress at least gave the coaching staff something concrete to build on. [Read more 🡒]