The final month of the regular season begins with a trip to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to take on Wake Forest. This will be the first meeting between UVA and Wake since 2012, when the then Jim Grobe-led Demon Deacons escaped Scott Stadium with a 16-10 victory over the Hoos.
Dave Clawson, who served as head coach at Fordham, Richmond, and Bowling Green prior to being named head coach of Wake Forest in 2014, is seeking a breakout season with the Demon Deacons following consecutive 3-9 seasons. He’ll need the offense to step up in order to accomplish this goal.
Wake Forest Peek
- Head Coach (record at school): Dave Clawson (6-18)
- 2015 Record: 3-9
- Offense 2015 Total Yards Game:333.4
- Offense 2015 Points/Game:17.4
- Defense 2015 Total Yards/Game:363.8
- Defense 2015 Points/Game:24.6
What To Expect On Game Day
Offense:
A young offense gained a lot of experience last season but struggled to put up points. Whether or not the experience yields results is the big question.
John Wolford enters his third season as Wake’s starting quarterback, a position he assumed as a true freshman in 2013. Completing 60.9% of his passes, the 6’1″ signal caller threw for 1,791 yards with nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2015. Top targets include sophomore wide receiver Tabari Hines and junior tight end Cam Serigne, players who received votes for the 2016 Preseason All-ACC team. Sophomore wide receiver Cortez Lewis, the team leader in receptions in 2015, returns as a starter as well.
Interceptions were a problem for Wake last year. As a team they threw 18 picks. On defense, they picked off only six passes.
Wake Forest struggled to run the ball last season, averaging 105 yards per game and just three yards per carry. Sophomore Tyler Bell led the Deacs in rushing last year; however, true freshman Cade Carney tops the depth chart at tailback heading into the first game of the 2016 season.
Left tackle Justin Herron, left guard Tyler Hayworth, and center Josh Harris have started double-digit games on the offensive line. Harris, a senior, has started 24 straight games entering this season. The right side of the line, featuring guard Phil Haynes and tackle Ryan Anderson, have starting experience as well.
Defense:
Wake Forest features a 4-2-5 base defense led by safety Ryan Janvion, who has 35 starts under his belt and finished third on the team in tackles last season. Janvion, junior defensive end Wendell Dunn (24 games), senior Mike linebacker Marquel Lee (24 games), defensive tackle Josh Banks (22 games), and cornerback Brad Watson (12 games) have started double-digit games for the Deacs.
Lee led the team in tackles for loss last season with 10. Defensive end Duke Ejiofor, who will start opposite Wendell Dunn, was the team leader in sacks with 4.5.
Special Teams:
The aforementioned Hines is Wake’s punt returner. He averaged four yards per return last season, including a long of 21 yards. The standout sophomore is a threat on special teams.
In the kicking game, while the Deacons are looking for a replacement at punter, Clawson does welcome back Mike Weaver as the team’s placekicker and kickoff specialist. Weaver made 11-of-18 field goals last year, including 10-of-12 between 20 and 39 yards.
