American college football season
The2021 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team representedWake Forest University during the2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The team was led by eighth-year head coachDave Clawson , and played their home games atTruist Field at Wake Forest inWinston-Salem, North Carolina , competing in theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Demon Deacons clinched the Atlantic Division for the first time since2006 and appeared in the ACC Championship game against Pittsburgh.
The ACC media days were held on July 26, 2021. In the conference preseason polls, the Demon Deacons were predicted to finish in fifth place in the Atlantic Division.[ 1]
Atlantic Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place) 1 Clemson 1,028 (146) 2 NC State 804 (1) 3 Boston College 638 4 Florida State 510 5 Wake Forest 472 6 Louisville 462 7 Syracuse 202
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 3 7:00 p.m. Old Dominion * ACCN W 42–1025,673 September 11 12:00 p.m. Norfolk State * Truist Field at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC ACCNX/ESPN+ W 41–1621,896 September 18 3:30 p.m. Florida State Truist Field at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC ESPN W 35–1429,564 September 24 7:00 p.m. atVirginia ESPN2 W 37–1738,699 October 2 12:30 p.m. Louisville No. 24 Truist Field at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC ACCRSN W 37–3429,077 October 9 3:30 p.m. atSyracuse No. 19 ESPN2 W 40–37OT 38,554 October 23 12:00 p.m. atArmy * No. 16 CBSSN W 70–5638,019 October 30 4:00 p.m. Duke No. 13 Truist Field at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry ) ACCN W 45–731,613 November 6 12:00 p.m. atNorth Carolina * [1] No. 9 ABC L 55–5850,500 November 13 7:30 p.m. No. 16NC State No. 12 Truist Field at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC (rivalry ) ACCN W 45–4234,503 November 20 12:00 p.m. atClemson No. 10 ESPN L 27–4881,048 November 27 12:00 p.m. atBoston College No. 18 ESPN2 W 41–1025,854 December 4 8:00 p.m. vs. No. 15Pittsburgh No. 16 ABC L 21–4557,856 December 31 12:00 p.m. vs.Rutgers * No. 17 ESPN W 38–1028,508
Source:[ 2]
^ North Carolina , a fellow member of theAtlantic Coast Conference , was played as a non-conference game and did not count in the league standings.[ 3] rivals otherwise only play once every six years due to conference divisional alignment.
Position Name First Year at Wake Head coach Dave Clawson 2014 Asst head coach / Receivers Kevin Higgins 2014 AHC Defense/defensive line Dave Cohen 2014 Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks Warren Ruggiero 2014 Defensive coordinator / Safeties Lyle Hemphill 2017 Special teams coordinator / tight ends Wayne Lineburg 2017 Assistant special teams coordinator / Nickelbacks Ryan Crawford 2018 Running backs John Hunter 2014 Offensive Line Nick Tabacca 2014 Cornerbacks Paul Williams 2020 Linebackers Greg Jones 2016 Special teams analyst LaTroy Lewis 2021 Source:[ 4]
1 2 3 4 Total Monarchs 3 0 0 7 10 Demon Deacons 14 14 7 7 42
Statistics
Statistics ODU WAKE First downs 17 20 Total yards 272 352 Rushing yards 145 164 Passing yards 127 188 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:19 27:41
Team Category Player Statistics Old Dominion Passing Hayden Wolff 11/17, 88 yards, TD Rushing Elijah Davis 12 rushes, 69 yards Receiving Stone Smartt 3 receptions, 26 yards Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 18/27, 188 yards, 3 TD Rushing Christian Beal-Smith 11 rushes, 74 yards, 2 TD Receiving A. T. Perry 4 receptions, 81 yards, TD
1 2 3 4 Total Spartans 3 6 0 7 16 Demon Deacons 7 17 17 0 41
Statistics
Statistics NORF WAKE First downs 19 22 Total yards 336 413 Rushing yards 141 161 Passing yards 195 252 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 38:39 21:21
Team Category Player Statistics Norfolk State Passing Juwan Carter 19/31, 195 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing J. J. Davis 6 rushes, 42 yards Receiving Justin Smith 5 receptions, 66 yards Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 17/25, 244 yards, TD Rushing Christian Beal-Smith 9 rushes, 60 yards, TD Receiving Jaquarii Roberson 4 receptions, 97 yards, TD
1 2 3 4 Total Seminoles 7 7 0 0 14 Demon Deacons 14 13 8 0 35
Statistics
Statistics FSU WAKE First downs 16 27 Total yards 317 484 Rushing yards 91 225 Passing yards 226 259 Turnovers 6 2 Time of possession 20:47 39:13
Team Category Player Statistics Florida State Passing McKenzie Milton 11/16, 119 yards, 2 INT Rushing Treshaun Ward 6 rushes, 48 yards Receiving Ontaria Wilson 3 receptions, 91 yards, TD Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 22/31, 259 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Christian Beal-Smith 19 rushes, 95 yards, TD Receiving A. T. Perry 7 receptions, 155 yards, TD
1 2 3 4 Total Demon Deacons 10 10 14 3 37 Cavaliers 0 3 14 0 17
Statistics
Statistics WAKE UVA First downs 24 31 Total yards 473 506 Rushing yards 203 99 Passing yards 270 407 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 29:27 30:33
Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 17/29, 270 yards, 3 TD Rushing Justice Ellison 13 rushes, 86 yards, TD Receiving Jaquarii Roberson 4 receptions, 91 yards Virginia Passing Brennan Armstrong 33/59, 407 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Mike Hollins 6 rushes, 36 yards Receiving Dontayvion Wicks 8 receptions, 114 yards, TD
1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 10 7 0 17 34 No. 24 Demon Deacons 10 10 7 10 37
Statistics
Statistics LOU WAKE First downs 25 26 Total yards 517 501 Rushing yards 208 177 Passing yards 309 324 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 34:36 25:24
Team Category Player Statistics Louisville Passing Malik Cunningham 19/26, 309 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jalen Mitchell 17 rushes, 89 yards Receiving Tyler Harrell 1 reception, 75 yards, TD Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 23/40, 324 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Justice Ellison 15 rushes, 67 yards, TD Receiving Jaquarii Roberson 6 receptions, 135 yards
1 2 3 4 OT Total No. 19 Demon Deacons 3 14 9 8 6 40 Orange 7 14 6 7 3 37
Statistics
Statistics WAKE SYR First downs 21 33 Total yards 426 514 Rushing yards 96 354 Passing yards 330 160 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 26:10 33:50
Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 19/32, 330 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Christian Beal-Smith 17 rushes, 63 yards, TD Receiving A. T. Perry 3 receptions, 137 yards, 3 TD Syracuse Passing Garrett Shrader 15/27, 160 yards, 2 TD Rushing Garret Shrader 29 rushes, 178 yards, TD Receiving Courtney Jackson 5 receptions, 64 yards
1 2 3 4 Total No. 16 Demon Deacons 14 14 21 21 70 Black Knights 7 14 14 21 56
Statistics
Statistics WAKE ARMY First downs 22 31 Total yards 638 595 Rushing yards 180 416 Passing yards 458 179 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 17:17 42:43
Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 23/29, 458 yards, 5 TD Rushing Christian Beal-Smith 8 rushes, 71 yards, TD Receiving Jaquarii Roberson 8 receptions, 157 yards, 3 TD Army Passing Jabari Laws 9/11, 140 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tyhier Tyler 15 rushes, 104 yards, TD Receiving Isaiah Alston 6 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Blue Devils 0 0 0 7 7 No. 13 Demon Deacons 14 14 10 7 45
Statistics
Statistics DUKE WAKE First downs 12 29 Total yards 315 677 Rushing yards 160 266 Passing yards 155 411 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 23:55 36:05
Team Category Player Statistics Duke Passing Gunnar Holmberg 10/18, 110 yards Rushing Mataeo Durant 20 rushes, 103 yards Receiving Jalon Calhoun 3 receptions, 50 yards Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 24/37, 402 yards, 3 TD Rushing Christian Turner 10 rushes, 75 yards Receiving A.T. Perry 7 receptions, 116 yards
1 2 3 4 Total No. 9 Demon Deacons 10 21 17 7 55 Tar Heels 14 10 10 24 58
Statistics
Statistics WAKE UNC First downs 35 31 Total yards 615 546 Rushing yards 217 330 Passing yards 398 216 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:27 33:33
Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 25/51, 398 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT Rushing Justice Ellison 13 carries, 81 yards Receiving Jaquarii Roberson 7 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TD North Carolina Passing Sam Howell 16/26, 216 yards, TD Rushing Ty Chandler 22 carries, 213 yards, 4 TD Receiving Antoine Green 6 receptions, 83 yards, TD
1 2 3 4 Total No. 16 Wolfpack 6 14 7 15 42 No. 12 Demon Deacons 7 17 7 14 45
Statistics
Statistics NCST WAKE First downs 25 27 Total yards 482 406 Rushing yards 74 116 Passing yards 408 290 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 28:20 31:40
Team Category Player Statistics NC State Passing Devin Leary 37/59, 408 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Ricky Person Jr. 8 rushes, 40 yards Receiving Emeka Emezie 10 receptions, 133 yards, 2 TD Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 20/47, 290 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT Rushing Justice Ellison 17 rushes, 57 yards, 2 TD Receiving A. T. Perry 5 receptions, 73 yards, TD
1 2 3 4 Total No. 10 Demon Deacons 0 10 3 14 27 Tigers 10 7 21 10 48
Statistics
Statistics WAKE CLEM First downs 24 25 Total yards 406 543 Rushing yards 36 333 Passing yards 370 210 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 26:08 33:52
Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 27/43, 312 yards, TD, INT Rushing Quinton Cooley 8 rushes, 41 yards, TD Receiving A. T. Perry 5 reception, 113 yards Clemson Passing DJ Uiagalelei 11/19, 208 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kobe Pace 24 rushes, 191 yards, 2 TD Receiving Beaux Collins 4 reception, 137 yards, TD
1 2 3 4 Total No. 18 Demon Deacons 14 10 10 7 41 Eagles 7 3 0 0 10
Statistics
Statistics WAKE BC First downs 25 9 Total yards 413 182 Rushing yards 177 163 Passing yards 236 19 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 36:13 23:47
Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing Sam Hartman 20/32, 236 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Christian Turner 18 rushes, 54 yards, TD Receiving A. T. Perry 4 receptions, 81 yards, 2 TD Boston College Passing Phil Jurkovec 3/11, 19 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Phil Jurkovec 11 rushes, 85 yards Receiving Trae Berry 1 reception, 15 yards, TD
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking██ Decrease in ranking Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP — — — RV 24 19 16 16 13 10 13 13 21 18 20 15 Coaches — — — RV 25 20 16 15 13 9 13 12 21 18 19 14 CFP Not released 9 12 10 18 16 17 Not released
Players drafted into the NFL [ edit ] Source:[ 5]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons
