Wake Forest Football: Who will Dave Clawson pick at quarterback?

Wake Forest football turned its program around with a bowl win in 2016 but will the below average offense hurt the Demon Deacons progress?

Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson turned the Demon Deacons into a winner for the first time since 2008. With a Military Bowl win over Temple last season, the Deacons finished 7-6. It wasn’t the Jim Grobe turnaround, but it’s a nice season after nearly a decade of losing.

Although the team made some nice progress, the offense held the team back from taking the next step. The Deacons aren’t known for their offensive prowess in the past, but 2016 wasn’t pretty. Quarterback John Wolford has started for three years while sharing time as well.

Wolford’s been less than efficient most of his career. In 2016, he threw for just 1,774 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions completing just 55 percent of his passes. He created more plays with his legs. He rushed for 521 yards and six touchdowns.

However, as an every down passer he’s suspect. He’s thrown 30 touchdowns against 35 interceptions in his career and completes just 57.9 percent of his passes.

Hinton boasts strong potential

Wolford’s struggles permeated through an offense that averaged just 20.4 points per game. The Demon Deacons were unfortunately out of options. They couldn’t go elsewhere because fellow quarterback Kendall Hinton went down with a season-ending injury early in the year.

Hinton is an even more electric runner and could create a more wide open offense. He still is developing as a passer, but he’s got a much higher ceiling than Wolford and a field-stretching arm:

Heading into 2017, the quarterback battle represents an under-the-radar team. If the quarterback position pans out, the Demon Deacons could rise even higher. I’m not saying Wolford isn’t the answer, but he’s had opportunities. Clawson knows what he has in the senior. Hinton embodies the team’s potential.

Hinton will likely receive a medical redshirt from the 2016 season. This gives him three more years at Wake Forest starting in 2017. The offense could be rebuilt around a player like him. The two quarterback system they ran in 2015 struggled to find consistency resulting in a 3-9 year. One quarterback will lead this team in 2017 and I’d bet on Hinton being the starter.

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Hinton’s youth and ceiling outweigh the senior’s pedestrian career. Both will see time regardless, because that’s the nature of a quarterback battle. However, Clawson’s offense needs a shot-in-the-arm and Hinton is it.