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ACC Football: Every team’s most important newcomers for 2021

By Dante Pryor

Dabo Swinney, Clemson football (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Dabo Swinney, Clemson football (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Dave Clawson of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons watches on against the Clemson Tigers during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 16, 2019, in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Dave Clawson of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons watches on against the Clemson Tigers during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 16, 2019, in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-5)

Though Wake was not extremely active in the portal (the Demon Deacons signed just three transfers), all three transfers Wake Forest signed should impact this season. Head coach Dave Clawson prefers to redshirt incoming first-year students and develop them.

Wake Forest has to replace Carlos Basham and Sage Surratt (Surratt opted out of the 2020 season). Though the Deacons did not suffer many losses to the roster, those are two devastating losses. However, these three transfers could see the field a lot next season.

  • Luiji Vilain (transfer), DE: Michigan graduate transfer Luiji Vilain comes closer to home and will finish his college football career at Wake Forest. Though Vilain does not have the elite size and athleticism of Carlos Basham, he could be a good rotational piece and give the Deacons some pass rush. In addition, he is a natural athlete with good get-off on the snap by playing offense in high school. Though Vilain did not see many the field in Ann Arbor, expect the 255-pound defensive end to see plenty of snaps on Tobacco Road.
  • Dez Williams, WR: There was a 33-catch disparity between last season’s leading receiver Jaquarii Roberson and second-leading receiver Donavon Greene. Though Greene did average 20 yards per reception, he had just 29 receptions. After Greene, there was no receiver with 20 catches. Williams gives the Deacons a solid option in the slot and could grow into an outside receiver. In addition, Williams has the ideal size (6-foot-2 and 200 pounds) with a big catch radius. The Maryland native could give quarterback Sam Hartman another receiving option.
  • Christian Turner (transfer), RB: Turner, another Michigan transfer, adds depth to a backfield in need of some. Turner continued to fall down the Wolverines’ depth chart could see some carries this season for Wake Forest. Kenneth Walker III transferred to Michigan State, allowing him to get some carriers alongside Christian Beal-Smith, Wake Forest’s leading rusher last season.
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