Wake Forest Athletics
#ProDeacs Earn Spots on NFL Rosters
9/8/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
14 former Demon Deacons are set to begin the 2020 season on 53-man rosters or practice squads.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – As the Wake Forest football team prepares for its first game of the 2020 season against No. 1 Clemson on Saturday, the #ProDeacs are set to kickoff the NFL slate a day later.
A pair of 2019 Demon Deacons will begin the season on 53-man rosters in offensive lineman Justin Herron and defensive back Essang Bassey.
After being drafted in the sixth round by the New England Patriots, Herron will look to earn a spot in the regular rotation during his rookie season. He has been working at both guard and tackle during training camp. Herron has even been in the conversation as a potential starter at right tackle.
Bassey was one of the stories of the weekend around the league, earning a spot on the active roster for the opening week. Bassey, who went undrafted in April, was one of the most highly coveted college free agents after the draft. It now marks the 15th time in the last 16 season the Broncos have had an undrafted free agent make the 53-man roster coming out of training camp.
In addition to Bassey and Herron, Wake Forest had three players from last year's team sign practice squad contracts in defensive back Amari Henderson, offensive lineman Nathan Gilliam and wide receiver Scotty Washington all signed practice squad contracts.
Justin Strnad, who was taken in the fifth round by the Denver Broncos, was placed on injured reserve after undergoing wrist surgery in late August.
Under Center
After ending last season on the Los Angeles Rams practice squad, quarterback John Wolford solidified himself as the clear-cut No. 2 quarterback for the franchise during training camp.
During training camp, he received rave reviews from both head coach Sean McVay and offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell:
"He's prepared, he's incredibly smart," O'Connell said. "I've been really happy with how he's progressed fundamentally and he's throwing the ball really well."
"You want Jared to stay healthy, but if John had to play, we feel very good about John," McVay said.
Veteran Demon Deacons
Cowboys offensive lineman Joe Looney enters his ninth season in the NFL, the longest tenured Demon Deacon in the league. Looney enters his fifth season in Dallas and his first as the full-time starter in the middle of the Cowboys line. He has played in every game during his first four years including starting all 16 games in 2018.
Entering his third season in the NFL, defensive back Jessie Bates III has asserted himself as one of the fixtures on the Cincinnati Bengals defense. He is the only player in the league to record more than 100 total tackles and intercept three or more passes during both the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
#ProDeacs Week One Slate (All times eastern)
A pair of 2019 Demon Deacons will begin the season on 53-man rosters in offensive lineman Justin Herron and defensive back Essang Bassey.
After being drafted in the sixth round by the New England Patriots, Herron will look to earn a spot in the regular rotation during his rookie season. He has been working at both guard and tackle during training camp. Herron has even been in the conversation as a potential starter at right tackle.
Bassey was one of the stories of the weekend around the league, earning a spot on the active roster for the opening week. Bassey, who went undrafted in April, was one of the most highly coveted college free agents after the draft. It now marks the 15th time in the last 16 season the Broncos have had an undrafted free agent make the 53-man roster coming out of training camp.
"I called my parents immediately, crying. Just [feeling] overwhelming excitement." - Essang Bassey#ProDeacs 🎩
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) September 6, 2020
In addition to Bassey and Herron, Wake Forest had three players from last year's team sign practice squad contracts in defensive back Amari Henderson, offensive lineman Nathan Gilliam and wide receiver Scotty Washington all signed practice squad contracts.
Justin Strnad, who was taken in the fifth round by the Denver Broncos, was placed on injured reserve after undergoing wrist surgery in late August.
Under Center
After ending last season on the Los Angeles Rams practice squad, quarterback John Wolford solidified himself as the clear-cut No. 2 quarterback for the franchise during training camp.
During training camp, he received rave reviews from both head coach Sean McVay and offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell:
"He's prepared, he's incredibly smart," O'Connell said. "I've been really happy with how he's progressed fundamentally and he's throwing the ball really well."
"You want Jared to stay healthy, but if John had to play, we feel very good about John," McVay said.
Veteran Demon Deacons
Cowboys offensive lineman Joe Looney enters his ninth season in the NFL, the longest tenured Demon Deacon in the league. Looney enters his fifth season in Dallas and his first as the full-time starter in the middle of the Cowboys line. He has played in every game during his first four years including starting all 16 games in 2018.
Entering his third season in the NFL, defensive back Jessie Bates III has asserted himself as one of the fixtures on the Cincinnati Bengals defense. He is the only player in the league to record more than 100 total tackles and intercept three or more passes during both the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
#ProDeacs Week One Slate (All times eastern)
- Alex Bachman (practice squad)
- NY Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Monday, 7:10 p.m., ESPN)
- Essang Bassey (active roster)
- Denver Broncos vs. Tennessee Titans (Monday, 10:20 p.m., ESPN)
- Jessie Bates III (active roster)
- Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
- Duke Ejiofor (injured reserve)
- Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (Thursday, 8:20 p.m., NBC)
- Nathan Gilliam (practice squad)
- Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
- Phil Haynes (active roster)
- Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., FOX)
- Amari Henderson (practice squad)
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs, Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS)
- Justin Herron (active roster)
- New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS)
- Justin Strnad (injured reserve)
- Denver Broncos vs. Tennessee Titans (Monday, 10:20 p.m., ESPN)
- Kevin Johnson (active roster)
- Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS)
- Joe Looney (active roster)
- Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC)
- Scotty Washington (practice squad)
- Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
- Kyle Wilber (active roster)
- Las Vegas Raiders at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS)
- John Wolford (active roster)
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC)
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