Wake Forest Athletics
Basham Returns with Goals On and Off the Field
2/26/2020 3:08:00 PM | Football
"Everybody wants to go to the league, but for my family it was about the education. That’s what I was here for, the main reason.” - Carlos "Boogie" Basham
By Les Johns
Watch out Mike McCrary, Boogie Basham has returned for his senior season, and he's coming for you.
Just a few days after completing final exams, but a week before the Wake Forest Football Demon Deacons traveled to New York City for the Pinstripe Bowl, Carlos 'Boogie' Basham announced on Twitter his decision to return for his redshirt senior season.
Basham led the ACC with 18 tackles for loss in 2019 and was second in the conference with 11 sacks.
He plans on shattering both those marks in his swan song, and is entering spring camp this week with specific goals for 2020.
"I want to build on the season I had last year, but I also want to break some records," Basham said. "It's something I really want."
Basham's goals include breaking the single-season record for both sacks and tackles for loss, both of which are held by 2006 Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame inductee McCrary. In 1992, McCrary had 15 sacks and 23 tackles for loss — single-season Wake Forest records.
Breaking those single-season marks would also put Basham in position to shatter career program records as well. Calvin Pace (1999-02) had 54 career tackles for loss, while Basham enters the 2020 season with 30 thus far. McCrary holds the mark for career sacks with 30. Basham has 15.5 thus far.
"It's a very exciting time," Basham said about the start of spring camp this week. "A bunch of the guys are anxious to get out there and start running around. I'm anxious to see what the nine new enrollees will do. They've been a big part of the lifting process so far."
The Deacs return what could be the most deep and talented defensive line under during the tenure of defensive line coach Dave Cohen and head coach Dave Clawson.
"I'd say the focus is building depth," Basham said. "We've been thin in the past and at the end of the season it's really hurt. Coach Clawson has focused a lot on getting the younger guys ready. They need to get ready to play.
"Our two-deep has been together almost two years now. We trust one another, and we can mix and match and make an impact as a defensive front."
There are seven players who earned starts last year on the Wake Forest defensive line, and all seven return for 2020: Basham, Rondell Bothroyd, Dion Bergan, Jr., Royce Francis, Ja'Corey Johns, Tyler Williams and Sulaiman Kamara.
"I'm probably going to be one of the voices of the defense, and that's an important role for me to fill," Basham said. "In high school, I wasn't always the loudest guy up in front, but now I have no choice but to be that leader.
"We came back in early January and have been working out every day. The winter workouts give you the biggest leap you can see. I've seen a lot of numbers gain in lifting and in speed."
They also add Old Dominion grad transfer Miles Fox.
"It's good having him around," Basham said. "I had three cousins at ODU who said that he's a great player and a great person. He's a great teammate and will be a big contributor for us."
While the defensive line is experienced and deep, the Wake Forest offensive line will have to replace three departing seniors for a second-straight season.
"You have to beat up on the guy next to you to get them better," Basham said. "They will come to us and tell us to go as hard as we can to help them get better for the season. That's what we're going to do for them."
Basham had various NFL Draft projections in front of him when he decided to return for one final season with the Deacs.
"It was pretty close," he said about the decision. "It was probably one of the hardest decisions I've made. We talked about it a lot.
"I wanted to make the best decision for me and my family. Everybody wants to go to the league, but for my family it was about the education. That's what I was here for, the main reason."
Next Up:
Wake Forest is back on the field for the second practice in spring ball on Thursday. Before the week of spring break, the Demon Deacons will have five practices. They will resume their slate of practices on March 17, running up until the spring game.
The spring game is scheduled for April 4 in BB&T Field. We invite all of Deacon Nation to come get their first glimpse at the 2020 team. Admission is free. After the game, fans can go onto the field to meet their favorite members of the Wake Forest team and get pictures and autogrpahs.
