Veterans Return: Clawson Excited for What 2021 Could Bring
1/12/2021 12:49:00 PM | Football
“These are our best players, and they’re all coming back for another year.” - Coach Clawson
It's safe to say the 2020 Wake Forest Football season didn't go completely according to plan.
Between a myriad of schedule changes, impromptu bye weeks and a three-week shutdown because of COVID-19 protocols, the Demon Deacons persevered and achieved a bowl game appearance for a program-record fifth straight season.
There were a ton of highlights along the way, including the incredible story of true freshman walk-on safety Nick Andersen, seven players earning All-ACC honors and the upset of No. 18 Virginia Tech in late October.
"I'm glad we did it," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "It was worth it, but the season had challenges every step of the way. Am I glad it's over? It's nice to have some down time, but I can't wait to get back at it."
Clawson said after a few days the sentiment changes to "let's go. Let's get the next one going."
"I'm feeling that way now," he said. "I'm enjoying the downtime, but I'm excited about next season."
Clawson has ample reason for that excitement. The early signing day saw the Deacs add 18 members to the team, including eight who will be on campus for spring camp in a couple of months.
The largest short-term impact will come as a bevy of presumed departing seniors take advantage of the free year of eligibility allowed by the NCAA — returning to join the Deacons for one final season in 2021.
Clawson expected to have an inexperienced offense in 2020, replacing nine starters because of graduation — including a trio on the offensive line and every skill position.
But the opposite was true on defense, where nearly eight-plus starters returned for the season just completed, losing just Amari Henderson, Essang Bassey and Justin Strnad.
"We were going to have nine new starters on offense, but I thought we had an older, veteran defense coming back," Clawson said about the 2020 campaign. "Unfortunately, that older, veteran defense never stayed healthy."
With the Deacs finishing the season 4-5, several contributors, especially in the secondary, missed multiple games in 2020.
Nasir Greer and Gavin Holmes missed six games each, Luke Masterson five and Coby Davis seven. All-ACC defensive end (and likely NFL first-round draft pick) Carlos "Boogie" Basham missed the final game of the regular season and the bowl game as well.
"All these things I was excited about, a lot of those bodies never played," Clawson said. "Now, I come back with that same optimism."
Players who will be back in the Old Gold & Black next season include offensive linemen Terrance Davis and Je'Vionte' Nash, tight end Brandon Chapman, receiver Donald Stewart, defensive linemen Sulaiman Kamara and Miles Fox, linebacker Ja'Cquez Williams; and defensive backs Luke Masterson, Traveon Redd, Ja'Sir Taylor and Nasir Greer.
"We were going to have 11 seniors in their last year of eligibility who have started, and every single one of them except Boogie Basham is coming back," Clawson said. "People talk about recruiting rankings, in my mind we got 10 four-and-five star grad transfers who are coming here and none of them had to change their address.
"These are our best players, and they're all coming back for another year. So, we're starting off in such a better spot than we were a year ago. We should have maturity and leadership."
This group of returning players will add depth, stability, experience and leadership for the 2021 Demon Deacons.
"If you take those players out, I was excited about next year," Clawson said. "Then you add these guys who are 22-24 year old men and put them into our program. I can't wait.
"I am probably as enthusiastic, optimistic and excited about this football team as I've ever been."
The ingredients seem to be in order. Clawson has added an exciting recruiting class, returned a remarkable amount of experienced talent and will encounter a standard schedule with four non-conference opponents.
Clawson's excitement level is high because he knows 2021 could be a special season for the Demon Deacons.
Between a myriad of schedule changes, impromptu bye weeks and a three-week shutdown because of COVID-19 protocols, the Demon Deacons persevered and achieved a bowl game appearance for a program-record fifth straight season.
There were a ton of highlights along the way, including the incredible story of true freshman walk-on safety Nick Andersen, seven players earning All-ACC honors and the upset of No. 18 Virginia Tech in late October.
"I'm glad we did it," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "It was worth it, but the season had challenges every step of the way. Am I glad it's over? It's nice to have some down time, but I can't wait to get back at it."
Clawson said after a few days the sentiment changes to "let's go. Let's get the next one going."
"I'm feeling that way now," he said. "I'm enjoying the downtime, but I'm excited about next season."
Clawson has ample reason for that excitement. The early signing day saw the Deacs add 18 members to the team, including eight who will be on campus for spring camp in a couple of months.
The largest short-term impact will come as a bevy of presumed departing seniors take advantage of the free year of eligibility allowed by the NCAA — returning to join the Deacons for one final season in 2021.
Clawson expected to have an inexperienced offense in 2020, replacing nine starters because of graduation — including a trio on the offensive line and every skill position.
But the opposite was true on defense, where nearly eight-plus starters returned for the season just completed, losing just Amari Henderson, Essang Bassey and Justin Strnad.
"We were going to have nine new starters on offense, but I thought we had an older, veteran defense coming back," Clawson said about the 2020 campaign. "Unfortunately, that older, veteran defense never stayed healthy."
With the Deacs finishing the season 4-5, several contributors, especially in the secondary, missed multiple games in 2020.
Nasir Greer and Gavin Holmes missed six games each, Luke Masterson five and Coby Davis seven. All-ACC defensive end (and likely NFL first-round draft pick) Carlos "Boogie" Basham missed the final game of the regular season and the bowl game as well.
"All these things I was excited about, a lot of those bodies never played," Clawson said. "Now, I come back with that same optimism."
Players who will be back in the Old Gold & Black next season include offensive linemen Terrance Davis and Je'Vionte' Nash, tight end Brandon Chapman, receiver Donald Stewart, defensive linemen Sulaiman Kamara and Miles Fox, linebacker Ja'Cquez Williams; and defensive backs Luke Masterson, Traveon Redd, Ja'Sir Taylor and Nasir Greer.
"We were going to have 11 seniors in their last year of eligibility who have started, and every single one of them except Boogie Basham is coming back," Clawson said. "People talk about recruiting rankings, in my mind we got 10 four-and-five star grad transfers who are coming here and none of them had to change their address.
"These are our best players, and they're all coming back for another year. So, we're starting off in such a better spot than we were a year ago. We should have maturity and leadership."
This group of returning players will add depth, stability, experience and leadership for the 2021 Demon Deacons.
"If you take those players out, I was excited about next year," Clawson said. "Then you add these guys who are 22-24 year old men and put them into our program. I can't wait.
"I am probably as enthusiastic, optimistic and excited about this football team as I've ever been."
The ingredients seem to be in order. Clawson has added an exciting recruiting class, returned a remarkable amount of experienced talent and will encounter a standard schedule with four non-conference opponents.
Clawson's excitement level is high because he knows 2021 could be a special season for the Demon Deacons.
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