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Can Wake Forest football repeat last season’s success?

By Dante Pryor

WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 30: Head coach Dave Clawson of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons watches his team play against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Truist Field on October 30, 2021 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wake Forest won 45-7. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 30: Head coach Dave Clawson of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons watches his team play against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Truist Field on October 30, 2021 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wake Forest won 45-7. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Wake Forest Demon Deacons defensive lineman Miles Fox (11) sacks Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Noah Vedral (0) during the third quarter Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights faced each other in the 2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Wake Forest defeated Rutgers 38-10. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Wake Forest Demon Deacons defensive lineman Miles Fox (11) sacks Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Noah Vedral (0) during the third quarter Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights faced each other in the 2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Wake Forest defeated Rutgers 38-10. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] /

Can the Demon Deacons replace key pieces on defense?

Wake Forest plays fast and likes to throw the football downfield, so the defense will spend more time on the field and give up yards and points. However, the defense got after the quarterback, tied for 23rd in the country with 38 sacks and fifth in turnovers (29 total turnovers).

Rondell Bothroyd, Luiji Vilian, and Jasheen Davis combined for 23.5 sacks, and Traveon Redd led the Deacons with three interceptions. The issue with Wake Forest’s defense was the rush defense (it finished 111th) and giving up explosive plays.

Wake Forest does lose a lot of production on its defense. Edge rusher Luiji Vilian is a Minnesota Viking, and Ja’Sir Taylor is an LA Charger. Last season’s leading tackler, Luke Masterson, is also done.

The secondary can still be pretty good if Gavin Holmes and Caelen Carson come to form and play to their potential. Safety Malik Mustapha flashed the ability to be a ball-hawking playmaker as a freshman.

What the Deacons need to have to happen is they stay healthy. There is some solid talent in the first 11 but a significant drop-off in their two-deep.

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