Wake Forest Demon Deacons NFL Draft Prospects

2026 Season Preview Read full preview »

Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2026 Preview: Dickert Leans on a Defense Built to Grind

Wake Forest went 9-4 (4-4 ACC) in Jake Dickert's debut and closed it by handling Mississippi State 43-29 in the Duke's Mayo Bowl, a nine-win haul that outstripped the program's previous two seasons combined, when it managed just four wins in each. The now second-year coach faces the harder trick of following that up while overhauling an offense that lost its entire quarterback room and a receiver corps stripped nearly to the studs. The defining offseason move came under center, where multi-time transfer Gio Lopez arrives to reunite with offensive coordinator Rob Ezell, the two last paired at South Alabama in 2024. Scottie Hazelton stays on to run a defense that should again carry the team.

Read the full 2026 Wake Forest Demon Deacons preview »

RANK	Player	Pos	Weight	Height	40YD	AVG POS RANK	AVG OVR RANK	Rating	Summary
195	Carlos Hernandez	WR	190lbs	6-0	4.49	30	194.5	81.2 MORE>>	Twice the Rio Hondo League MVP at Monrovia High School in California, Carlos Hernandez caught 71 passes for 1,594 yards and 23 tou...
273	Langston Hardy	DL	245lbs	6-4	4.60	55	314.5	78.6 MORE>>	A son of former Pro Bowl linebacker Kevin Hardy, Langston Hardy was an all-state pick as a junior and senior at Sandalwood High Sc...
346	Dallas Afalava	DL	295lbs	6-2	4.90	52	307	74.5 MORE>>	Dallas Afalava was a two-time first-team all-league defensive tackle at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, also earning all-lea...
539	Davaughn Patterson	S	215lbs	6-1	4.53	147	703	64.0 MORE>>	Davaughn Patterson was born in Miami and played at Edward H. White High School in Jacksonville, where he made 64 tackles and two i...

RANK	Player	Pos	Weight	Height	40YD	AVG POS RANK	AVG OVR RANK	Rating	Summary
164	Demond Claiborne	RB	188lbs	5-10	4.37	11	137.9	82.1 MORE>>	Demond Claiborne arrived at Wake Forest from King William High School in Aylett, Virginia, a four-star recruit by 247Sports and a ...
260	Fa'alili Fa'amoe	OT	311lbs	6-5	5.26	56	246.8	79.1 MORE>>	A former defensive lineman out of American Samoa, Fa'alili Fa'amoe committed to Washington State as a 3-star recruit in the 20...
432	Karon Prunty	CB	192lbs	6-2	4.45	106	459.5	70.6 MORE>>	Karon Prunty from I.C. Norcom High School was rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 3-star grade by 247 Sports. Following h...

RANK	Player	Pos	Weight	Height	40YD	AVG POS RANK	AVG OVR RANK	Rating	Summary
360	Jasheen Davis	DL	270lbs	6-3	4.62	90	402	73.8 MORE>>	Jasheen Davis, born December 18, 2001, hails from Snellville, Georgia. At Shiloh High School, Davis dominated as a senior, racking...
411	Hank Bachmeier	QB	215lbs	6-2	4.85	31	530.5	69.0 MORE>>	Hank Bachmeier from Murrieta Valley High School was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 4-star grade by 247 Sports. After...
491	Nick Andersen	S	197lbs	5-11	4.58	95	492	57.0 MORE>>	Following high school, Andersen opted to join Wake Forest after being heavily recruited.In 2020 as a freshman Andersen saw action...

RANK	Player	Pos	Weight	Height	40YD	AVG POS RANK	AVG OVR RANK	Rating	Summary
96	Caelen Carson	CB	199lbs	6-0	4.48	21	74.6	84.0 MORE>>	Hailing from Waldorf, MD, Caelen Carson showcased his athletic versatility at North Point High School, where he excelled in footba...
129	Malik Mustapha	S	209lbs	5-10	4.50	35	115	83.0 MORE>>	Malik Mustapha, a safety out of Wake Forest, made strides in his collegiate career after a transfer from Richmond. Starting as a t...
341	Michael Jurgens	C	311lbs	6-4	5.20	84	387.5	74.0 MORE>>	Michael Jurgens from Damascus High School was rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 3-star grade by 247 Sports. Following h...