Wide Receivers Poised for Another Record-Setting Season

Wide Receivers Poised for Another Record-Setting Season

6/11/2020 12:30:00 PM | Football

Coach Kevin Higgins is excited for Wake Forest’s wide receivers to set the standard once again.

By: Les Johns

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The last three seasons of offense for Wake Forest Football have been the most prolific in program history. The 2019 campaign featured the highest passing offense in Demon Deacon history, with receivers hauling in 3,748 yards and 32 touchdowns.

The bad news?

Recent graduates Kendall Hinton, Scotty Washington, Jack Freudenthal and Steven Claude totaled 59 percent of that aforementioned production from a season ago.

However, redshirt junior Sage Surratt, who led the ACC with 111.2 yards per game in 2019, is back and feeling good despite missing the final four games of the season with a shoulder injury.

"The main thing we walked away from last year saying is that we have to develop more depth," said Wake Forest associate head coach Kevin Higgins, who coaches the receivers. "That is critical. Sage was down for those practices with his shoulder (injury), so that was an opportunity for some of the younger guys to get a lot of work."

With Washington and Surratt both down late in the season with injuries, A.T. Perry and Donavon Greene got a lot of game action. Perry had four catches for 62 yards and one score, but also was putting together a solid spring camp in the five practices that took place before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Atorian Perry was one of those guys who got a lot of work," Higgins said. "Nolan Groulx was another. Both were really stepping up and made a difference. We started getting an inkling about Donavon Greene in those last four games (of last season), but now it's back to the basics with him to see where he's at and where we can take him from here.

"The change in Donavon has really been incredible."

Higgins said that once Greene found a consistent intensity at practice, he began to make big strides. He had 13 catches for 249 yards and two touchdowns in the four games he played as a true freshman last season.

"With the array of injuries we had, we had no choice but to put him in, but we wanted to get him in anyway," Higgins said. "Just watching him and the progress he made of not understanding full speed and not being in shape assignment wise, to what he was able to do at the end of the season was really satisfying.

"There's so much he still has to learn. But he's been around Sage and Scotty (Washington) and has learned from those guys. He's in a different spot now and he's as motivated as any guy I've seen."

The slot receiver role is heavily featured in the Wake Forest run-pass option offensive scheme, and the Deacs have been blessed with a trio of high-level performers in the Clawson era at that position in Hinton, Greg Dortch and Tabari Hines. That role could be filled by redshirt junior Jaquarii Roberson this season.

"Another guy who is huge is Jaquarii, who is really going to have to step up for us this coming fall," Higgins said. "He has to make that next big jump. It starts with his body, making sure his hamstring and his shoulders are healthy.

"In our offense, it's really hard to play 90-100 plays. We're going to need to have Jaquarii, Taylor Morin and Nolan Groulx — we're going to need all those guys ready to go at that position. Hopefully, Jaquarii going into his fourth year will be ready physically, mentally and emotionally to handle the pressure that goes with it. We've had three pretty good ones who have come before him. There is some pressure there, but he's going to have to handle that, but we're also going to need more than just one guy at that position."

Freshman Jahmal Banks enrolled early, but didn't have a chance to practice in the spring.

"We have really high hopes for Jahmal Banks," Higgins said. "Unfortunately, he missed camp with a hamstring injury and is still nursing that. He has a chance to be a good player down the road."

Higgins sees little reason for a dropoff offensive as the Deacs get set for the 2020 season.

"I've got a great room and a great group of kids," he said. "We're excited for this season. The teams who have spent time with their players and have strong relationships are going to come out of this the best."