Wake Forest Athletics
Basham to Lead a Deep Wake Forest Defensive Front
8/26/2020 12:30:00 PM | Football, Les Johns
“Bringing all these guys back — that’s a lot of experience in the defensive line room. It’s a great battle right now” - Carlos “Boogie” Basham Jr.
Under offensive coordinator Warren Ruggiero, the Wake Forest offense doesn't just move fast, it performs with efficiency — compiling the best three years of production in program history in the last three seasons.
But it just might be the defense that has Demon Deacon fans eager with anticipation as we enter the 2020 campaign.
And that starts up front, where defensive line coach Dave Cohen has the luxury of returning seven guys who earned starts a season ago, including preseason All-ACC defensive end Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr.
With perhaps the most talent and depth on the defensive line in the Clawson era, Cohen has a lot of tools at his disposal in fall camp.
"Coach Cohen and (grad assistant) C.J. (McGorisk) are doing a great job of mixing and matching the lineups," Basham said. "Bringing all these guys back — that's a lot of experience in the defensive line room. It's a great battle right now, seeing the guys go back-and-forth. I'm looking forward to seeing those guys bring the same energy to gameday that they bring to practice."
The depth brings a bit of versatility, meaning the staff can play a bit more situational when needed. But there's other benefits as well.
"If a guy gets tired, we have probably three others who can play the same position and give as much effort," Basham said.
Basham arrived five years ago a skinny 250-pounds. He's a fearsome 285 now, giving the credit to working with strength and conditioning coach Brandon Hourigon in the weight room and cutting out candy — specifically Skittles. A pre-game bag of Skittles prior to kickoff was the norm for Basham in high school.
"They gave me a rush," he said.
Speaking of rush, that's what he plans to do a lot of this coming season, as Basham has big goals that can only be achieved by getting into the backfield often and getting to the quarterback.
"My personal goals are to break both the sack and tackles for loss record," Basham said. "I want us to be the best defense in the country."
Basham had 11 sacks and 18 TFLs a year ago. The Wake Forest program record is currently held by Mike McCrary with 15 sacks and 23 tackles for loss — both from the Demon Deacons' 1992 Independence Bowl Championship season.
For that to come to fruition, Basham is going to need for the 2020 season to come off largely as currently planned, with the 10+1 scheduling model adopted by the ACC. That means he's going to have to stay healthy, and his team will need to stay largely unaffected during the season by COVID-19.
"I feel very safe," Basham said. "The bubble we've created here since July has been great. It's safer here than back home and I know that's the case for a lot of guys on the team.
"Depth will be a big thing. This year it's going to be even more important than ever. With COVID going on, you never know who might have to miss. So, I feel that depth is going to give us an advantage."
Of course, the season starts off with a challenge, as the No. 1 ranked Clemson Tigers invade Truist Field at Wake Forest on Sept. 12.
"That's a great opportunity," Basham said. "They've kind of got after us the last couple of years. This year, we're both fresh and dealing with these tough times. This would be a great opportunity."
While the Wake Forest offense has been setting records the last three seasons, it just might be on the defense in 2020 to be the difference maker.
"There's no pressure," Basham said. "The offense has a lot of guys who have played a lot of ball. We've got a lot of guys, but the offense is doing a great job.
"We have a lot of hard hitting and guys who like putting their faces in the gaps."
But it just might be the defense that has Demon Deacon fans eager with anticipation as we enter the 2020 campaign.
And that starts up front, where defensive line coach Dave Cohen has the luxury of returning seven guys who earned starts a season ago, including preseason All-ACC defensive end Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr.
With perhaps the most talent and depth on the defensive line in the Clawson era, Cohen has a lot of tools at his disposal in fall camp.
"Coach Cohen and (grad assistant) C.J. (McGorisk) are doing a great job of mixing and matching the lineups," Basham said. "Bringing all these guys back — that's a lot of experience in the defensive line room. It's a great battle right now, seeing the guys go back-and-forth. I'm looking forward to seeing those guys bring the same energy to gameday that they bring to practice."
The depth brings a bit of versatility, meaning the staff can play a bit more situational when needed. But there's other benefits as well.
"If a guy gets tired, we have probably three others who can play the same position and give as much effort," Basham said.
Basham arrived five years ago a skinny 250-pounds. He's a fearsome 285 now, giving the credit to working with strength and conditioning coach Brandon Hourigon in the weight room and cutting out candy — specifically Skittles. A pre-game bag of Skittles prior to kickoff was the norm for Basham in high school.
"They gave me a rush," he said.
Speaking of rush, that's what he plans to do a lot of this coming season, as Basham has big goals that can only be achieved by getting into the backfield often and getting to the quarterback.
"My personal goals are to break both the sack and tackles for loss record," Basham said. "I want us to be the best defense in the country."
Basham had 11 sacks and 18 TFLs a year ago. The Wake Forest program record is currently held by Mike McCrary with 15 sacks and 23 tackles for loss — both from the Demon Deacons' 1992 Independence Bowl Championship season.
For that to come to fruition, Basham is going to need for the 2020 season to come off largely as currently planned, with the 10+1 scheduling model adopted by the ACC. That means he's going to have to stay healthy, and his team will need to stay largely unaffected during the season by COVID-19.
"I feel very safe," Basham said. "The bubble we've created here since July has been great. It's safer here than back home and I know that's the case for a lot of guys on the team.
"Depth will be a big thing. This year it's going to be even more important than ever. With COVID going on, you never know who might have to miss. So, I feel that depth is going to give us an advantage."
Of course, the season starts off with a challenge, as the No. 1 ranked Clemson Tigers invade Truist Field at Wake Forest on Sept. 12.
"That's a great opportunity," Basham said. "They've kind of got after us the last couple of years. This year, we're both fresh and dealing with these tough times. This would be a great opportunity."
While the Wake Forest offense has been setting records the last three seasons, it just might be on the defense in 2020 to be the difference maker.
"There's no pressure," Basham said. "The offense has a lot of guys who have played a lot of ball. We've got a lot of guys, but the offense is doing a great job.
"We have a lot of hard hitting and guys who like putting their faces in the gaps."
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