Wake Forest Football: Who can keep the offense going strong in 2018?
By Jacob Wilson
After going 8-5 in the 2017 season, Wake Forest football will be searching for answers in the wake of offensive personnel changes. Here’s how they can keep the wheels turning in 2018.
Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson appears to have righted the ship after back to back abysmal seasons in his first two years with the team. Since stringing together only six wins in two seasons, Clawson has improved the team’s record in each of the two previous years, finishing 7-6 and 8-5 in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Much of that success can be attributed to former quarterback and current New York Jet, John Wolford. Wolford, a former three star prospect out of Jacksonville, FL, went through both the good and bad times with the Demon Deacons as he had been the team’s starter since 2015. Only when a turnaround occurred in Wolford did the team realize its potential as well.
After compiling 30 touchdowns and 35 interceptions in his first three seasons, Wolford’s college career was resurrected under offensive coordinator Warren Ruggiero in his fifth season with the Demon Deacons. Wolford would finish his senior year with 3,192 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Wolford also added an impressive 10 touchdowns on the ground.
However, after three years of mediocrity, Wolford’s revival seems to have come too late. While Wake Forest is undoubtedly grateful for his contributions, it’s time for both parties to move on. For Wolford, that means trying to make an NFL roster despite a small sample size of greatness. For Wake Forest, that means finding the player who will help maintain the offense’s pace in 2018.
For some, that player is quarterback Kendall Hinton. Hinton has a decent amount of experience as an incoming junior, earning various starts throughout his first two seasons with the Demon Deacons. Hinton is a dynamic athlete who can throw and run, but his opportunity to display his skills was lost after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 of the 2016 season.
Hinton threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns in 2017, also adding 190 yards and a score on the ground. Given Hinton’s versatility as a quarterback, Ruggiero will have a lot to work with in 2018. However, a new quarterback could bring the Demon Deacon coaching staff back to square one after what was a four-year long project with Wolford.
At this point in time, Wake Forest doesn’t have much of a choice. They will live and die by Hinton in 2018, and only time will tell whether that’s a good or bad thing. After finishing 14th in the nation in passing touchdowns last year, the Demon Deacons may find themselves deploying a more balanced attack in this upcoming season.
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At the end of the day, Hinton has enough talent to keep Wake Forest competitive despite a tough 2018 schedule. Given the team’s depth at the offensive skill positions, the difference between their 2017 and 2018 finish will likely be determined by Hinton’s production. With a small sample size so far, Hinton’s success at quarterback will be an interesting storyline to follow in 2018.