Way-too-early look: Wake Forest

With the football season less than 60 days from opening, we take an early look at each of the Tigers' 12 opponents for the 2019 season. Next up, Clemson's Week 11 opponent, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

With the football season less than 60 days from opening, we take an early look at each of the Tigers' 12 opponents for the 2019 season. Next up, Clemson's Week 11 opponent, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Head coach: Dave Clawson has done what few thought possible at Wake Forest: post 28 wins in his first five seasons.

Among those 28 wins were a number of critical victories including wins over No. 23 Temple in the 2016 Military Bowl and a win over SEC member Texas A&M in the 2017 Belk Bowl. 

A 37-34 Birmingham Bowl victory over Memphis marked the first time in school history that Wake Forest has won a bowl game in three consecutive seasons.

Demon Deacons on offense: Warren Ruggiero begins his fifth season as Wake Forest’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after previously serving in the same role under head coach Dave Clawson at Bowling Green.

Ruggiero oversaw the development of an explosive Wake Forest offense that in 2017 set over 100 team and individual records.

The Deacons in 2017 set new standards for points scored (459) and total offense yards (6,055)in a season, while accumulating five of the top 10 offensive games in school history.

Under Ruggiero’s tutelage, quarterback John Wolford earned second team All-ACC honors and led the ACC in passing efficiency while setting school records for touchdown passes (29), touchdowns responsible for (39) and passing yards (3,192) in a season. Eight of Wake Forest’s 12 All-ACC selections in 2017 came from the offense.

Demon Deacons on defense: Lyle Hemphill is in his second season on the Demon Deacon coaching staff after joining the program in January, 2017.

Hemphill joined the Wake Forest staff after six seasons at Stony Brook including the last four as defensive coordinator.

Under Hemphill’s direction, the Seawolves became one of the top defensive units in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). In 2015 Stony Brook led the FCS in both total defense (250.1 yards per game) and yards allowed per play (4.10). In 2016, 

Stony Brook was third in the nation in total defense (274.2) and a top 20 unit nationally in tackles for loss, scoring defense, rushing defense, red zone defense, pass defense, first down defense and blocked punts. He was named the FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 2015 by FootballScoop.

The early line: Last season, the Tigers game at Wake Forest served as the catalyst for the Tigers offensive explosion–as the Tigers ran up the score, literally and figuratively, amassing 471 yards on the ground on their way to a 63-3 win. 

While Las Vegas has not listed a line yet for the 2019 meeting of the Tigers and Demon Deacons, the Tigers are sure to be big favorites.