# Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Atlantic Coast · Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC
Head coach: Jake Dickert · year 2 · 9-4 at WAKE · 32-24 career over 6 seasons
Offense: Multiple · Defense: 4-2-5

## 2026 outlook

- 2025 record: 9-4 (4-4 in conference)
- National title odds: +125000 (#74 on the futures board)
- Season win total: 5.5 (over priced -132)
- Returning starter games: 51%
- Schedule difficulty: 34th-hardest of 138 FBS teams

## Returning production by unit

| Unit | Returning games | Games back | Depth back |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skill offense | 35% | 26/74 | 3/13 |
| Offensive line | 26% | 14/53 | 8/12 |
| Defensive front | 71% | 65/91 | 10/18 |
| Secondary | 60% | 39/65 | 8/12 |

## Roster movement

- Key returning: Zamari Stevenson (DB), Langston Hardy (DL), Gabe Kirschke (DL), Jack Hines (OL), George Steih (OL)
- Key departures (with destination): Karon Prunty (DB), Robby Ashford (QB), Nuer Gatkuoth (DL), George Sell (OL), Devin Kylany (OL)
- Key arrivals (with previous school): Gio Lopez (QB) – UNC, Wondame Davis Jr. (WR) – UTEP, Drayden Dickmann (WR) – RICE, Antonio Meeks (WR) – LOU, KD Daniels (RB) – FLA

## Depth chart

### Offense

- WR-X: Antonio Meeks, Wondame Davis Jr., Jack Foley
- WR-Z: Carlos Hernandez, Ny Carr, Chase Tyler
- WR-SL: Kam Shanks, Drayden Dickmann
- LT: Tolu Olajide, Elliot Demaine, Ethan Calloway
- LG: Clinton Richard, Ja'Marion Kennedy
- C: Will Way, John Ohnegian, Devin McRae
- RG: Ryan Berger, Jack Hines
- RT: Aidan Martin, George Steih
- TE: Kamrean Johnson, Landon Morris, Will Loerzel
- QB: Gio Lopez, Steele Pizzella
- RB: Ty Clark III, KD Daniels, Sawyer Seidl, Deuce Lawrence

### Defense

- DE: Gabe Kirschke, Tyler Walton, D.J. Johnson
- NT: Zach Lohavichan, Sydir Mitchell, Brandon Smiley
- DT: Dallas Afalava, Matt Herron, Kadear Dembele
- RUSH: Langston Hardy, Camden Hardy, Kerrington Lee
- WLB: Frank Cusano, Vincent Firenze, Tylan McNichols
- MLB: Aiden Hall, Buom Jock, Whittman Whaley
- LCB: Deuce Blades II, Travon West, Devin Cook
- SS: Davaughn Patterson, Joshua Patterson, Jerron Blackwell
- FS: Rushaun Tongue, Myles Turpin
- RCB: Bernard Causey, Ashaad Williams, Sascha Garcia
- NB: Braylon Johnson, Zamari Stevenson, Koredell Bartley

### Special Teams

- PT: Jack Ploszay, Ethan Hyams
- PK: Connor Calvert, Caleb Carlson
- KO: Caleb Carlson, Connor Calvert
- LS: Wyatt Freeman, Eli Gilmour
- H: Jack Ploszay, Ethan Hyams
- PR: Carlos Hernandez, Jamar Searcy
- KR: Koredell Bartley, Jamar Searcy, Ryan Henley

## 2026 schedule

| Week | Opponent | Site | TV | Spread |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Akron | Home | ACC Network | WAKE -23.5 |
| 2 | Purdue | Away | Fox Sports 1 | – |
| 3 | Miami (FL) | Home | ESPN | – |
| 4 | Louisville | Away | – | – |
| 5 | Stanford | Home | – | – |
| 6 | NC State | Away | – | – |
| 7 | California | Away | – | – |
| 9 | Virginia | Home | – | – |
| 10 | Merrimack Warriors (FCS) | Home | – | – |
| 11 | SMU | Away | – | – |
| 12 | Georgia Tech | Away | – | – |
| 13 | Duke | Home | – | – |

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Source: SharpData OS – https://www.sharpdataos.com/cfb/teams/wake-forest
Depth chart updated 2026-08-11. Odds shown are point-in-time snapshots.