Wake Forest is staring at a major reset in two of the most important rooms on the roster. With about a month left before football returns, the Deacs are sorting through a wide receiver group and a running back room that both have to replace a lot of production from last season.
At receiver, the name to know is Carlos Hernandez. The rising senior transferred in from Washington State a year ago after following Coach Dickert, and Wake is counting on him to be the centerpiece of the passing game for Gio Lopez.
Hernandez came in with high expectations, but his first half of the season was uneven. Then things started to turn.
He delivered a key punt return touchdown in the upset of Virginia, and over the final four games of the year - bowl game included - he put together a stretch of five or more catches in each one.
By the end of the season, Hernandez led the Deacs with 40 receptions and 611 receiving yards. Now the challenge is consistency. Wake needs him to be a reliable No. 1 option every week if the offense is going to find its rhythm under quarterback Robby Ashford.
There’s also room for a couple of returners to grow into larger roles. Jack Foley and Bryce Kania didn’t see much action last season, but both are in line for bigger opportunities. Foley gave Wake a glimpse of what he can do with a 64-yard touchdown catch in the bowl game, and that kind of burst is exactly what can change a receiver’s trajectory.
The transfer portal brought in plenty of help as well, and one of the most intriguing additions is slot receiver Kam Shanks. He arrives from Arkansas after posting 9 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown in a crowded receiver room last season.
Before that, at UAB, he put up 62 receptions for 656 yards and six receiving touchdowns. He also had a strong spring, and that’s why he stands out as a player who could matter quickly in this offense.
Chase Tyler is another transfer with a chance to carve out a real role. He comes over from Duke after finishing last season with four catches for 120 yards.
The numbers were modest, but the profile is not. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, he brings size that should play well on the outside for Gio Lopez.
Wake also added Ny Carr, a highly touted recruit transferring in from Miami after a quieter season there, and Wondame Davis Jr., who spent two seasons at UTEP and averaged 23.5 yards per reception last year. Davis could emerge as a legitimate deep threat if he finds his footing in this offense.
Then there’s Elijah Otieno, the freshman who looks like the kind of player Wake used to feature with Chris Barnes last season. At 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, Otieno’s speed showed up in spring ball, and he could see meaningful action in the fall.
The backfield is going through its own transition. Demond Claiborne is gone, and Ty Clark III now steps into the lead role after serving as the backup last season.
Even in a smaller workload, Clark showed plenty. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry on 75 attempts and scored three rushing touchdowns.
He was just as useful as a receiver, too, with 17 catches for 209 yards.
He finished the Duke’s Mayo Bowl with 91 rushing yards and 73 receiving yards, a good reminder that he can impact the game in multiple ways. This season, the question is whether he can handle the workload as the primary back. The answer will shape a lot of what Wake can do offensively.
The Deacs also added two transfer backs with very different skill sets. Sawyer Seidl comes in from North Dakota as the quicker, smaller option after rushing for 897 yards on 188 carries last season. KD Daniels, a 6-foot, 203-pound back from Florida, brings more power after totaling 28 carries for 120 yards.
That mix gives Wake Forest flexibility, and that versatility is part of the appeal. Different bodies, different styles, different ways to stress a defense. Talented freshman Deuce Lawrence and returning redshirt freshman Jamar Searcy are also in the mix and will try to earn touches as the season unfolds.
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The next step, though, will tell Dickert a lot more. He pointed to some sloppiness during situational third-down work, the kind of detail issue that tends to show up early in camp and can quickly become a habit if it lingers. With padded practice coming soon, he sounded eager to see how the Deacons respond when the physicality rises and the margin for error shrinks. [Read more 🡒]