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.
Quick Facts Wake Forest Demon Deacons football, ACC Atlantic Division championGator Bowl champion ...
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More information Conf, Overall ...
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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.[1]
More information Predicted finish, Team ...
Atlantic
Predicted finish |
Team |
Votes (1st place) |
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 |
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More information Date, Time ...
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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| 7:00 p.m. | Old Dominion* | | | ACCN | W 42–10 | 25,673 |
September 11 | 12:00 p.m. | Norfolk State* | | - Truist Field at Wake Forest
- Winston-Salem, NC
| ACCNX/ESPN+ | W 41–16 | 21,896 |
September 18 | 3:30 p.m. | Florida State | | - Truist Field at Wake Forest
- Winston-Salem, NC
| ESPN | W 35–14 | 29,564 |
| 7:00 p.m. | at Virginia | | | ESPN2 | W 37–17 | 38,699 |
October 2 | 12:30 p.m. | Louisville | No. 24 | - Truist Field at Wake Forest
- Winston-Salem, NC
| ACCRSN | W 37–34 | 29,077 |
October 9 | 3:30 p.m. | at Syracuse | No. 19 | | ESPN2 | W 40–37 OT | 38,554 |
October 23 | 12:00 p.m. | at Army* | No. 16 | | CBSSN | W 70–56 | 38,019 |
October 30 | 4:00 p.m. | Duke | No. 13 | - Truist Field at Wake Forest
- Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry)
| ACCN | W 45–7 | 31,613 |
November 6 | 12:00 p.m. | at North Carolina* | No. 9 | | ABC | L 55–58 | 50,500 |
November 13 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 16 NC State | No. 12 | - Truist Field at Wake Forest
- Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry)
| ACCN | W 45–42 | 34,503 |
November 20 | 12:00 p.m. | at Clemson | No. 10 | | ESPN | L 27–48 | 81,048 |
November 27 | 12:00 p.m. | at Boston College | No. 18 | | ESPN2 | W 41–10 | 25,854 |
December 4 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 15 Pittsburgh | No. 16 | | ABC | L 21–45 | 57,856 |
| 12:00 p.m. | vs. Rutgers* | No. 17 | | ESPN | W 38–10 | 28,508 |
|
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Source:[2]
^ 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.[3] This was done because the two rivals otherwise only play once every six years due to conference divisional alignment.
More information Position, Name ...
Position |
Name |
First Year at Wake |
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 |
2021 |
Source:[4] |
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More information Players, Coaches ...
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Old Dominion
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Monarchs |
3 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
10 |
Demon Deacons |
14 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
42 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, ODU ...
Statistics | ODU | WAKE |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Old Dominion | Passing | Hayden Wolff | 11/17, 88 yards, TD |
Rushing | Elijah Davis | 12 rushes, 69 yards |
Receiving | Stone Smartt | 3 receptions, 26 yards |
Wake 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 |
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Norfolk State
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Spartans |
3 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
16 |
Demon Deacons |
7 |
17 |
17 |
0 |
41 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, NORF ...
Statistics | NORF | WAKE |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Norfolk 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 yards |
Wake 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 |
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Florida State
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Seminoles |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
Demon Deacons |
14 |
13 |
8 |
0 |
35 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, FSU ...
Statistics | FSU | WAKE |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Florida State | Passing | McKenzie Milton | 11/16, 119 yards, 2 INT |
Rushing | Treshaun Ward | 6 rushes, 48 yards |
Receiving | Ontaria Wilson | 3 receptions, 91 yards, TD |
Wake 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 |
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At Virginia
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Demon Deacons |
10 |
10 |
14 |
3 |
37 |
Cavaliers |
0 |
3 |
14 |
0 |
17 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, WAKE ...
Statistics | WAKE | UVA |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Wake Forest | Passing | Sam Hartman | 17/29, 270 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Justice Ellison | 13 rushes, 86 yards, TD |
Receiving | Jaquarii Roberson | 4 receptions, 91 yards |
Virginia | 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 |
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Louisville
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Cardinals |
10 |
7 |
0 |
17 |
34 |
No. 24 Demon Deacons |
10 |
10 |
7 |
10 |
37 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, LOU ...
Statistics | LOU | WAKE |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Louisville | Passing | Malik Cunningham | 19/26, 309 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Jalen Mitchell | 17 rushes, 89 yards |
Receiving | Tyler Harrell | 1 reception, 75 yards, TD |
Wake 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 |
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At Syracuse
More information OT, Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | OT |
Total |
No. 19 Demon Deacons |
3 |
14 |
9 |
8 | 6 |
40 |
Orange |
7 |
14 |
6 |
7 | 3 |
37 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, WAKE ...
Statistics | WAKE | SYR |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Wake 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 TD |
Syracuse | Passing | Garrett Shrader | 15/27, 160 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Garret Shrader | 29 rushes, 178 yards, TD |
Receiving | Courtney Jackson | 5 receptions, 64 yards |
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At Army
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 16 Demon Deacons |
14 |
14 |
21 |
21 |
70 |
Black Knights |
7 |
14 |
14 |
21 |
56 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, WAKE ...
Statistics | WAKE | ARMY |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Wake 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 TD |
Army | 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 |
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Duke
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Blue Devils |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
No. 13 Demon Deacons |
14 |
14 |
10 |
7 |
45 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, DUKE ...
Statistics | DUKE | WAKE |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Duke | Passing | Gunnar Holmberg | 10/18, 110 yards |
Rushing | Mataeo Durant | 20 rushes, 103 yards |
Receiving | Jalon Calhoun | 3 receptions, 50 yards |
Wake 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 |
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At North Carolina
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 9 Demon Deacons |
10 |
21 |
17 |
7 |
55 |
Tar Heels |
14 |
10 |
10 |
24 |
58 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, WAKE ...
Statistics | WAKE | UNC |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Wake 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 TD |
North 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 |
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No. 16 NC State
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 16 Wolfpack |
6 |
14 |
7 |
15 |
42 |
No. 12 Demon Deacons |
7 |
17 |
7 |
14 |
45 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, NCST ...
Statistics | NCST | WAKE |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
NC 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 TD |
Wake 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 |
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At Clemson
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 10 Demon Deacons |
0 |
10 |
3 |
14 |
27 |
Tigers |
10 |
7 |
21 |
10 |
48 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, WAKE ...
Statistics | WAKE | CLEM |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Wake 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 yards |
Clemson | 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 |
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At Boston College
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 18 Demon Deacons |
14 |
10 |
10 |
7 |
41 |
Eagles |
7 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, WAKE ...
Statistics | WAKE | BC |
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Wake 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 TD |
Boston 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 |
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More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes | Week |
---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
---|
AP | — | — | — | RV | 24 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 15 |
---|
Coaches | — | — | — | RV | 25 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 14 |
---|
CFP | Not released | 9 | 12 | 10 | 18 | 16 | 17 | Not released |
---|
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More information Round, Pick ...
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