After a strong start to the 2022 season, and successful bounce back from a heartbreaking overtime loss at home to Clemson, Wake Forest stumbled down the stretch losing four of their last five regular season games, and they were favored in each game. A win over Missouri in the Gasparilla Bowl capped an 8-5 season for Dave Clawson, far short of his hopes after a 6-1 start and a rise to #10 in the polls.
An offense that has averaged no less than 36 points per game over the last three seasons will have a new triggerman this season. Sam Hartman is now at Notre Dame, so the job goes to career backup Mitch Griffis. He has five starters back on offense, but that does not include All-ACC receiver AT Perry who caught 81 passes for 1096 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Six starters return to a defense that allowed 28 points per game last season.
Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson at ACC Kickoff
Returning Offensive Starters, Games Played/Starts:
● Justice Ellison, RB – 32/14
● Donavon Greene, WR – 25/22
● Taylor Morin, WR – 37/30
● Michael Jurgens, OL – 49/34
● De’Vonte Gordon, OL – 29/27
Returning Defensive Starters, Games Played/Starts:
● Chase Jones, LB – 42/16
● Malik Mustapha, S – 23/11
● Chelen Garnes, S – 21/13
● Caelen Carson, CB – 25/22
Returning Special Team Starters:
● Will Cobb, LS
● Matthew Dennis, K
● Ivan Mora, P
Wake Forest 2023 Schedule
● 8/31 — vs. Elon
● 9/9 — vs. Vanderbilt
● 9/16 – at Old Dominion
● *9/23 – vs. Georgia Tech
● *10/7 – at Clemson
● *10/14 – at Virginia Tech
● *10/21 – Pitt
● *10/28 – Florida State
● *11/2 – at Duke
● *11/11 – NC State
● *11/18 – at Notre Dame
● *11/25 – at Syracuse
2022 Results
VMI W 44-10
at Vanderbilt W 45-25
Liberty W 37-36
Clemson L 45-51 (2OT)
at FSU W 31-21
Army W 45-10
Boston College W 43-15
at Louisville L 21-48
at NC State L 21-30
North Carolina L 34-36
Syracuse W 45-35
at Duke L 31-34
vs. Missouri ^ W 27-17
