The Wake Forest Demon Deacons had just a 6-6 regular season, but it felt like a nine-win season for a lot of other college football programs. Wake had done a lot of losing in recent years, being one of the most predictable teams in college football, falling well below the level of bowl eligibility. Head coach Dave Clawson came aboard three seasons ago knowing he was not entering a quick-fix situation. He had to endure two seasons of misery, pointing to 2016 as the time for his operation to take the next step forward. Yet, a lot of commentators and people in the media were skeptical that the Demon Deacons could make the climb to six wins. However, they got there, and then they won their bowl game. This is a program bubbling with optimism. It feels that it has changed its culture and its attitude. If the Demon Deacons can simply maintain what they have this season, they should feel encouraged about their long-term future.
How Did They End 2016
Wake Forest lost to Boston College in a game which would have given the Deacons a winning regular season record at 7-5, so that was disappointing, but beating Syracuse and Virginia went a long way toward getting Wake to that magic six-win plateau, which secured the program a bowl game, which was always the primary goal for the season. Wake Forest’s offense sometimes sputtered, but its defense was superb, and the offense made enough plays against inferior opposition to beat the teams the Deacons were supposed to beat. Wake Forest moved into the middle of the ACC and slipped from the basement level. That marked huge progress.
Offseason Changes
Mike Elko is out at defensive coordinator to become the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, replaced by Jaw Sawvel. Elko joined Clawson in ushering in this revival of the Wake Forest team. He made the defense tough. He made it responsive to alignments and personnel groupings. Elko made Wake Forest defenders extremely consistent at being in the right spot at the right time, able to move with the flow of the ball. It is easy to think that losing him will have permanent consequences. However, Sawvel, his replacement, did a great job for Minnesota in the Holiday Bowl against heavily favored Washington State. Sawvel’s Minnesota defense was missing several suspended players, but the backups held Washington State’s starters in check. Wake can realistically expect its defense to remain strong under new guidance. Linebacker Marquel Lee is also gone. The Demon Deacons will need to shore up their linebacker corps this season.
Team X-Factor
The linebackers on a defense which loses five starters – the offense lost only two starters – will occupy a very significant, and moreover, a very central role in sustaining the gains that were made a year ago. So many responsibilities are attached to the linebackers in a league with a lot of good offenses (Pitt, North Carolina, Florida State, Clemson, Louisville, Syracuse) that Wake Forest can’t escape this next season without a legitimately solid performance from its defense.
What To Expect From The Demon Deacons This Year
The ACC is a beast. Wake might maintain the same level of play, but the same level of play might mean a one-game decline. Wake needs a higher level of play to stay in bowl eligibility at 6-6.
Record Last 5 Seasons
2016: 7-6
2015: 3-9
2014: 3-9
2013: 4-8
2012: 5-7
Schedule & Outlook
Wake Forest’s schedule isn’t too demanding to start the season, but you have to remember that this is a mediocre team. Someone like North Carolina or Florida State would be expected to be 4-0. Wake Forest will have challenges. They shouldn’t sweat too much against Presbyterian to start but then they have to go to Boston College, come home to Utah State and then go to Appalachian State. They should be at least 2-2 and possibly 3-1 or 4-0, but you have to remember that this is a weak ACC squad.
Wake will finish the year 5-7, but 6-6 is a very real possibility. The offenses in the ACC Atlantic will make it very hard on Wake’s defense to maintain its 2016 standards.
Regular Season Win Total Prediction: Under 5.5
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