Wake Forest needs to make major strides on defense in 2021
Before the past couple of seasons, Wake Forest had put together some pretty solid defenses under Dave Clawson, but they have slipped the past couple of seasons and they are going to need to step up this season if this team is to live up to their potential.
On the defensive line, the Demon Deacons are going to be missing second-round pick, Carlos Basham, on the edge, but they do have third-team All-ACC tackle Miles Fox back to lead the way. The D-line is going to have some experience coming back around Fox in the form Sulaiman Kamara on the interior and Jacorey Johns and Rondell Bothroyd on the edge. Someone is going to have to step up and replace Basham’s production or this defense could get even worse.
At linebacker, Ryan Smenda Jr is back for his third straight season as a starter and he could be in for a nice season up ahead. Look for senior Traveon Redd to be the starter opposite of Smenda Jr.
In the secondary, former walk-on Nick Anderson is going to be the leader and he had four interceptions and earned a third-team All-ACC nod because of his stellar play. The passing defense really struggled for the Demon Deacons last season Caelen Carson and Ja’Sir Taylor are going to be on the outside at corner and Zion Keith will be beside Anderson at safety.
There is going to have to be a massive improvement at every level for this defense to improve to where it needs to be.