The 2021 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by eighth-year head coach Dave Clawson, and played their home games at Truist Field at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Demon Deacons clinched the Atlantic Division for the first time since 2006 and appeared in the ACC Championship game against Pittsburgh.
Preseason
ACC poll The ACC media days were held on July 26, 2021. In the conference preseason polls, the Demon Deacons were predicted to finish in fifth place in the Atlantic Division.
+Atlantic 1 Clemson 1,028 (146) 2 NC State 804 (1) 3 Boston College 638 4 Florida State 510 5 Wake Forest 472 6 Louisville 462 7 Syracuse 202
Schedule
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The game against North Carolina, a fellow member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, was played as a non-conference game and did not count in the league standings. This was done because the two rivals otherwise only play once every six years due to conference divisional alignment.
Coaching staff Head coach Dave Clawson 2014 Asst head coach / Receivers Kevin Higgins 2014 AHC Defense/defensive line Dave Cohen 2014 Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks Warren Ruggiero 2014 Defensive coordinator / Safeties Lyle Hemphill 2017 Special teams coordinator / tight ends Wayne Lineburg 2017 Assistant special teams coordinator / Nickelbacks Ryan Crawford 2018 Running backs John Hunter 2014 Offensive Line Nick Tabacca 2014 Cornerbacks Paul Williams 2020 Linebackers Greg Jones 2016 Special teams analyst LaTroy Lewis 2021Source:
Roster
Game summaries
Old Dominion
Statistics Statistics ODUWAKE First downs 17 20 Total yards 272 352 Rushing yards 145 164 Passing yards 127 188 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:19 27:41 Team Category Player StatisticsOld Dominion Passing Hayden Wolff 11/17, 88 yards, TD Rushing Elijah Davis 12 rushes, 69 yards Receiving Stone Smartt 3 receptions, 26 yardsWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 18/27, 188 yards, 3 TD Rushing Christian Beal-Smith 11 rushes, 74 yards, 2 TD Receiving A. T. Perry 4 receptions, 81 yards, TD
Norfolk State
Statistics Statistics NORFWAKE First downs 19 22 Total yards 336 413 Rushing yards 141 161 Passing yards 195 252 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 38:39 21:21 Team Category Player StatisticsNorfolk State Passing Juwan Carter 19/31, 195 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing J. J. Davis 6 rushes, 42 yards Receiving Justin Smith 5 receptions, 66 yardsWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 17/25, 244 yards, TD Rushing Christian Beal-Smith 9 rushes, 60 yards, TD Receiving Jaquarii Roberson 4 receptions, 97 yards, TD
Florida State
Statistics Statistics FSUWAKE First downs 16 27 Total yards 317 484 Rushing yards 91 225 Passing yards 226 259 Turnovers 6 2 Time of possession 20:47 39:13 Team Category Player StatisticsFlorida State Passing McKenzie Milton 11/16, 119 yards, 2 INT Rushing Treshaun Ward 6 rushes, 48 yards Receiving Ontaria Wilson 3 receptions, 91 yards, TDWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 22/31, 259 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Christian Beal-Smith 19 rushes, 95 yards, TD Receiving A. T. Perry 7 receptions, 155 yards, TD
At Virginia
Statistics Statistics WAKEUVA First downs 24 31 Total yards 473 506 Rushing yards 203 99 Passing yards 270 407 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 29:27 30:33 Team Category Player StatisticsWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 17/29, 270 yards, 3 TD Rushing Justice Ellison 13 rushes, 86 yards, TD Receiving Jaquarii Roberson 4 receptions, 91 yardsVirginia Passing Brennan Armstrong 33/59, 407 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Mike Hollins 6 rushes, 36 yards Receiving Dontayvion Wicks 8 receptions, 114 yards, TD
Louisville
Statistics Statistics LOUWAKE First downs 25 26 Total yards 517 501 Rushing yards 208 177 Passing yards 309 324 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 34:36 25:24 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisville Passing Malik Cunningham 19/26, 309 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jalen Mitchell 17 rushes, 89 yards Receiving Tyler Harrell 1 reception, 75 yards, TDWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 23/40, 324 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Justice Ellison 15 rushes, 67 yards, TD Receiving Jaquarii Roberson 6 receptions, 135 yards
At Syracuse
Statistics Statistics WAKESYR First downs 21 33 Total yards 426 514 Rushing yards 96 354 Passing yards 330 160 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 26:10 33:50 Team Category Player StatisticsWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 19/32, 330 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Christian Beal-Smith 17 rushes, 63 yards, TD Receiving A. T. Perry 3 receptions, 137 yards, 3 TDSyracuse Passing Garrett Shrader 15/27, 160 yards, 2 TD Rushing Garret Shrader 29 rushes, 178 yards, TD Receiving Courtney Jackson 5 receptions, 64 yards
At Army
Statistics Statistics WAKEARMY First downs 22 31 Total yards 638 595 Rushing yards 180 416 Passing yards 458 179 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 17:17 42:43 Team Category Player StatisticsWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 23/29, 458 yards, 5 TD Rushing Christian Beal-Smith 8 rushes, 71 yards, TD Receiving Jaquarii Roberson 8 receptions, 157 yards, 3 TDArmy Passing Jabari Laws 9/11, 140 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tyhier Tyler 15 rushes, 104 yards, TD Receiving Isaiah Alston 6 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TD
Duke
Statistics Statistics DUKEWAKE First downs 12 29 Total yards 315 677 Rushing yards 160 266 Passing yards 155 411 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 23:55 36:05 Team Category Player StatisticsDuke Passing Gunnar Holmberg 10/18, 110 yards Rushing Mataeo Durant 20 rushes, 103 yards Receiving Jalon Calhoun 3 receptions, 50 yardsWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 24/37, 402 yards, 3 TD Rushing Christian Turner 10 rushes, 75 yards Receiving A.T. Perry 7 receptions, 116 yards
At North Carolina
Statistics Statistics WAKEUNC First downs 35 31 Total yards 615 546 Rushing yards 217 330 Passing yards 398 216 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:27 33:33 Team Category Player StatisticsWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 25/51, 398 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT Rushing Justice Ellison 13 carries, 81 yards Receiving Jaquarii Roberson 7 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TDNorth Carolina Passing Sam Howell 16/26, 216 yards, TD Rushing Ty Chandler 22 carries, 213 yards, 4 TD Receiving Antoine Green 6 receptions, 83 yards, TD
No. 16 NC State
Statistics Statistics NCSTWAKE First downs 25 27 Total yards 482 406 Rushing yards 74 116 Passing yards 408 290 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 28:20 31:40 Team Category Player StatisticsNC State Passing Devin Leary 37/59, 408 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Ricky Person Jr. 8 rushes, 40 yards Receiving Emeka Emezie 10 receptions, 133 yards, 2 TDWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 20/47, 290 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT Rushing Justice Ellison 17 rushes, 57 yards, 2 TD Receiving A. T. Perry 5 receptions, 73 yards, TD
At Clemson
Statistics Statistics WAKECLEM First downs 24 25 Total yards 406 543 Rushing yards 36 333 Passing yards 370 210 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 26:08 33:52 Team Category Player StatisticsWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 27/43, 312 yards, TD, INT Rushing Quinton Cooley 8 rushes, 41 yards, TD Receiving A. T. Perry 5 reception, 113 yardsClemson Passing DJ Uiagalelei 11/19, 208 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kobe Pace 24 rushes, 191 yards, 2 TD Receiving Beaux Collins 4 reception, 137 yards, TD
At Boston College
Statistics Statistics WAKEBC First downs 25 9 Total yards 413 182 Rushing yards 177 163 Passing yards 236 19 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 36:13 23:47 Team Category Player StatisticsWake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 20/32, 236 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Christian Turner 18 rushes, 54 yards, TD Receiving A. T. Perry 4 receptions, 81 yards, 2 TDBoston College Passing Phil Jurkovec 3/11, 19 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Phil Jurkovec 11 rushes, 85 yards Receiving Trae Berry 1 reception, 15 yards, TD
Rankings
Players drafted into the NFL
4 140 Zach Tom OG Green Bay Packers 6 214 Ja'Sir Taylor CB Los Angeles Chargers
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References