College Football Preview 2024: Wake Forest Demon Deacons win projections, strengths and weaknesses, quarterback spotlight and more

• Head coach: Dave Clawson (11th season)
• 2023 record: 4-8
• PFF power ranking: 72nd
• Chance to win the ACC: 5%
• Strength of schedule: 50th
• Projected win total: 6.9
• FanDuel win total: 4.5
• 2024 recruiting rank (On3): No. 53 nationally, No. 11 in the ACC

Wake Forest lost as many games in 2023 as in the previous two years combined (eight). The main culprit was Sam Hartman, who transferred to Notre Dame and is the Demon Deacons’ all-time leading passer. Wake Forest subsequently struggled to get anything going through the air, placing 114th in the FBS in passing grade (55.6).

Help is on the way in the form of transfer quarterback Hank Bachmeier, whose 80.5 PFF passing grade last year ranked 25th in college football. He’ll have a very strong offensive line and a capable receiving corps to throw to. The Demon Deacons have some nice pieces in their front seven but need an inexperienced secondary to step up.

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Biggest Strength: Offensive line

Wake Forest fielded the fourth-highest-graded offensive line in the Power Five last season (81.2), and the eighth-highest-graded unit in college football. The Demon Deacons did lose two starters from that unit, including All-ACC guard Michael Jurgens, but it should still be a very strong group for 2024.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary lost some major pieces

Wake Forest’s secondary was one of its strengths last year, placing 34th in the nation in PFF grade. However, the Demon Deacons brought back only one of their five starters from the defensive backfield: slot cornerback Evan Slocum. Two of the four starters who departed were drafted in 2024 (safety Malik Mustapha and cornerback Caelen Carson). Wake Forest now faces questions about its new-look secondary, especially at outside cornerback.

Three Notable Transfer Portal Additions

• QB Hank Bachmeier (Louisiana Tech): 80.0 PFF grade
• LB Branson Combs (Southern Illinois): 82.4 PFF grade
• CB Capone Blue (Kent State): 61.7 PFF grade

Three Notable Transfer Portal Losses

• WR Jahmal Banks (Nebraska): 77.5 PFF grade
• WR Ke’Shawn Williams (Indiana): 73.9 PFF grade
• RB Justice Ellison (Indiana): 75.6 PFF grade

2023 Team Overview

Quarterback Spotlight: Hank Bachmeier

2023 Grade: 80.0
Key Stat: 90.1 PFF passing grade when not blitzed (best in Group of Five, sixth best in FBS)