Wake Forest Athletics
Chapman Has Grown Alongside Deacon Program
12/28/2020 12:24:00 PM | Football, Les Johns
“I’ve been a part of four straight bowl games. I know how important that is for this program, to keep going to bowl games and win championships.” - Brandon Chapman
For Brandon Chapman, he was off, then on and then off again regarding his decision to participate in Senior Night activities at Truist Field last Friday.
One thing is certain, he wants to close out 2020 with a Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over Wisconsin on Dec. 30.
"I've been a part of four straight bowl games," Chapman said. "I know how important that is for this program, to keep going to bowl games and win championships. We've gone this far into a season like this, so we might as well finish strong. That's our goal, to come out as a bowl champion."
As he arrived on campus in 2016, the Demon Deacons were coming off consecutive 3-9 seasons in the first two campaigns under new coach Dave Clawson.
"Coach Clawson has brought in so much structure to this program," Chapman said. "He wants guys who love football. It's very clear who the guys who love football are, and those are the guys who end up playing. They're the ones who stick it out and want to finish a season like 2020. Bringing in guys with that mentality leads to championships, bowl games and winning teams."
A well-defined 6-foot-5, 249 pound redshirt senior tight end, Chapman is an excellent blocker and looks like he could hold his own in the Octagon if needed. He actually arrived for camp as a true freshman weighing 255 pounds. He has played in 45 games in his Wake Forest career, grabbing 26 receptions for 218 yards.
"I've learned so much since I've been here at Wake Forest," Chapman said. "I came in as a young 18-year old kid. I weighed the same, but I didn't look like I do now. I was getting hurt a lot and missed a lot of practices. I was really weak in the weight room. I think just getting in the weight room, learning how the human body works and how to properly condition to change my body — that is the biggest reason I did HES (Health & Exercise Science) as my undergrad."
Chapman did an internship with Wake Forest strength and conditioning coach Brandon Hourigan, who he affectionately referred to as a 'nutjob.'
"Just learning how to push your boundary beyond what you think you can do," Chapman said about what he learned. "You learn a lot about your body and a lot about yourself playing Division-I football. Just learning I can deal with a lot more than I think, that's what I can take away from Wake Forest."
Because of a rule passed by the NCAA earlier this year, Chapman has a chance to return for one more season despite being at Wake for five years already.
"Having all these relationships and bonds with so many great guys," Chapman said about what he's enjoyed the most at Wake Forest. "I have so much respect for so many people I've met coming in and out of here. I'm an old man here now, and I've met a lot of people. That's invaluable to me.
"It's like a blink of an eye. So much growing has happened in the last five years, and I'm just eternally grateful for the opportunity to be here."
Chapman knows first-hand the impact Hourigan has on the football program and was thrilled to have time working with him side-by-side. Working in the field of strength and conditioning very well could be an option for Chapman moving forward.
"When you're in there and being coached by him, he's intense and somewhat of a nut job, but I love it," Chapman said. "I love everything about it. When he's teaching you think from an internship perspective, he knows his stuff. He's one heckuva guy. He's really a role model to me. I look up to him and the whole staff a lot.
"He really has us more than the coaches do. Strength coaches deserve all the credit they get. They do the work behind the scenes, and it's not pretty. That's why I did the internship, to feel it out and see how I liked it. That's definitely something I will want to pursue. Keeping in contact with coach Hourigan will be on my list to do."
Chapman will join his teammates in Charlotte on Dec. 30 against Wisconsin, but still isn't sure what lies ahead directly after that.
"That question is still in the back of my mind," he said. "I have a lot of thinking to do, and talking to my family."
One thing is certain, he wants to close out 2020 with a Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over Wisconsin on Dec. 30.
"I've been a part of four straight bowl games," Chapman said. "I know how important that is for this program, to keep going to bowl games and win championships. We've gone this far into a season like this, so we might as well finish strong. That's our goal, to come out as a bowl champion."
As he arrived on campus in 2016, the Demon Deacons were coming off consecutive 3-9 seasons in the first two campaigns under new coach Dave Clawson.
"Coach Clawson has brought in so much structure to this program," Chapman said. "He wants guys who love football. It's very clear who the guys who love football are, and those are the guys who end up playing. They're the ones who stick it out and want to finish a season like 2020. Bringing in guys with that mentality leads to championships, bowl games and winning teams."
A well-defined 6-foot-5, 249 pound redshirt senior tight end, Chapman is an excellent blocker and looks like he could hold his own in the Octagon if needed. He actually arrived for camp as a true freshman weighing 255 pounds. He has played in 45 games in his Wake Forest career, grabbing 26 receptions for 218 yards.
"I've learned so much since I've been here at Wake Forest," Chapman said. "I came in as a young 18-year old kid. I weighed the same, but I didn't look like I do now. I was getting hurt a lot and missed a lot of practices. I was really weak in the weight room. I think just getting in the weight room, learning how the human body works and how to properly condition to change my body — that is the biggest reason I did HES (Health & Exercise Science) as my undergrad."
Chapman did an internship with Wake Forest strength and conditioning coach Brandon Hourigan, who he affectionately referred to as a 'nutjob.'
"Just learning how to push your boundary beyond what you think you can do," Chapman said about what he learned. "You learn a lot about your body and a lot about yourself playing Division-I football. Just learning I can deal with a lot more than I think, that's what I can take away from Wake Forest."
Because of a rule passed by the NCAA earlier this year, Chapman has a chance to return for one more season despite being at Wake for five years already.
"Having all these relationships and bonds with so many great guys," Chapman said about what he's enjoyed the most at Wake Forest. "I have so much respect for so many people I've met coming in and out of here. I'm an old man here now, and I've met a lot of people. That's invaluable to me.
"It's like a blink of an eye. So much growing has happened in the last five years, and I'm just eternally grateful for the opportunity to be here."
Chapman knows first-hand the impact Hourigan has on the football program and was thrilled to have time working with him side-by-side. Working in the field of strength and conditioning very well could be an option for Chapman moving forward.
"When you're in there and being coached by him, he's intense and somewhat of a nut job, but I love it," Chapman said. "I love everything about it. When he's teaching you think from an internship perspective, he knows his stuff. He's one heckuva guy. He's really a role model to me. I look up to him and the whole staff a lot.
"He really has us more than the coaches do. Strength coaches deserve all the credit they get. They do the work behind the scenes, and it's not pretty. That's why I did the internship, to feel it out and see how I liked it. That's definitely something I will want to pursue. Keeping in contact with coach Hourigan will be on my list to do."
Chapman will join his teammates in Charlotte on Dec. 30 against Wisconsin, but still isn't sure what lies ahead directly after that.
"That question is still in the back of my mind," he said. "I have a lot of thinking to do, and talking to my family."
Players Mentioned
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