Wake Forest Preview: New QB, Struggling Secondary, Talented Freshmen

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Two years ago the Wake Forest football team went all the way to the ACC championship game and finished with an 11 and 3 record and the ACC Atlantic Division Title.

That stellar performance heightened winning expectations entering last season, especially with the return of their star quarterback, Sam Hartman, who threw 110 touchdown passes with a 27 and 18 career record.

But overall it ended up being a disappointing season, an 8 and 5 record and, most disheartening, 3 wins and 5 losses in the conference. The season blew up when they committed eight turnovers against Louisville and lost ignominiously, and also fell to Duke and NC State late in the season.

Evaluated as a whole, their season was mediocre even though they won a bowl game against Missouri. That win did, however, mark the school’s seventh straight bowl appearance – second most in the ACC.

The Demon Deacons kick off their 2023 season this coming Thursday night against Elon University without Hartman, who transferred to play quarterback for Notre Dame. The Demon Deacons will play against their team hero in South Bend, Indiana on November 11. Set aside time to watch that one.

The team is projected to finish ninth in the ACC out of 14 teams. This sounds like a typical disrespectful evaluation of Wake Forest football. Given the team’s consistent winning track record under Coach Dave Clawson, they’ll probably finish higher than ninth.

Positive vibes permeate the program. It opened a $38 million football facility this month that has already and will continue to attract talented recruits while boosting overall player morale and top-shelf conditioning.

What to look for this year

There are three key storylines to follow this season: the play of new quarterback Mitch Griffis, a sophomore; the ability, or lack thereof, of the secondary to bat down passes that it could not time and time against last season; and the incoming freshman class – evaluated to be the most talented during coach Dave Clawson’s 10-year tenure as head coach.

Offense

The offense will have difficulty matching the record-breaking passing statistics Hartman posted last season mainly because Griffis will be in his first season as the full-time starter. The strategic strength of the offense will be the implementation of the deceptive and innovative delayed run pass option offense that, for the most part, has been flummoxing defense coordinators for several seasons.

In limited playing time so far in his Wake Forest career, Griffis has looked respectable and athletic, connecting on 29 of 41 passes for 348 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The fact that many people haven’t seen him play much is probably one of the reasons Wake is expected to be a middle-of-the-road team in the ACC this season with Clemson, Florida State, and Pitt picked one, two, and three respectively.

Don’t be surprised if so-called experts underestimate how well Griffis performs. He’s got an impressive ability to run away from rushers and a strong and accurate arm; he looks like a better overall athlete than Hartman. Whether he’s as accurate passing will have to be shown and be pivotal in the team’s season. As a high school player, he threw for 3,000 yards and 40 touchdowns and earned All-State accolades.

Can he win? We know this: he won more games than anyone who has ever played quarterback at his high school.

He’ll have a skilled and experienced multi-sport athlete to throw to in Jahmal Banks, who last Fall had his best college season hauling in 42 catches for 636 yards and 9 TDs. This guy is one of the team’s best all-around athletes having played, in high school, for a basketball team ranked in the Top 10 nationally.

Banks will be joined at receiver by junior Taylor Morin. With striking dependability, he’s caught 12 touchdowns over his three-year career – tied for 8^th in program history – and amassed 122 receptions including 47 last season. The Demon Deacons will also call on sophomore receiver Wesley Grimes, who caught 87 passes for 26 touchdowns in high school. They have up to six wide receivers who will play plenty and are skilled. A freshman or two could emerge as a star.

Junior running back Justice Ellison returns after leading the team in rushing last season. He rambled for 707 yards, 4.2 yards per carry, and six touchdowns. Demond Claiborne will also carry the ball and showed remarkable skills in high school with a 300-yard game rushing.

And the offensive line has plenty of experience anchored by center Sean McGinn.

Two keys will be how the new tight end core and backup running backs contribute, and how well Griffis executes the sophisticated offensive scheme that will depend on him making swift decisions on when to hand off or pass – while the play is underway.

Defense

To say last season Wake Forest had difficulty covering the pass wouldn’t capture just had severe a problem it was. Saturday after Saturday, they could not deflect passes even when closely guarding receivers, and this is one of the biggest reasons their season didn’t live up to the hype. They need better ball skills or they’re in for another avalanche of touchdown passes caught against them.

Two returners from that secondary, Malik Mustapha and Chelan Garner, were among the more consistent of this challenged secondary. Both these players will be counted on to step up their play and help the others with less experience. Mustapha will be roaming the secondary, sometimes lining up at linebacker, on other plays as a deep safety, and unpredictably chasing down quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers from various starting points. Last Fall he made 58 tackles featuring three sacks and two forced fumbles, adding to his 37 tackles the year before. Last season Garnes did his part, too, making 71 tackles.

If a freshman recruit emerges who can cover the pass well, this could be the spark that lifts Wake to a better overall record than last year.

Another area of concern is the graduation of interior linemen after last season. It’s unclear who will fill that hole, and if someone emerges as a star that could be a big boost to this less-than-stellar defense.

The most optimistic thing about this year’s defense is the return of junior linebacker Jasheen Davis, who had a team-leading 12 sacks last season and 33 tackles. The previous season he made 34 tackles that earned him Second Team Freshman All-American accolades. Tall and quick as an outside pass rusher, he could have a big season with several quarterback sacks on blitzes.

Then there’s the Clawson factor. This coach wins big wherever he coaches. No one has ever inspired Wake Forest football players and fans on the scale and with the charisma that he has. Expect him to overachieve.

It all kicks off — including tailgates — Thursday night. Put your helmets on.

Here we go.