Deacon Sports Xtra: Depth Serving Multiple Benefits in Spring Ball

Deacon Sports Xtra: Depth Serving Multiple Benefits in Spring Ball

4/5/2021 12:22:00 PM | Football, Les Johns

“The good thing is our depth allows us, at least at the start of spring, to go three-deep across the board.” - Dave Clawson

By: Les Johns

Wake Forest Football has returned to the practice field for a full Spring Camp with record numbers in search of what could become a special season in 2021.

With nine super-seniors returning for an extra year of eligibility and a large group of incoming freshmen early enrollees, Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson is rolling three-deep at every position.

"Usually in the spring we just run two groups," Clawson said. "We have a lot of depth, because of the numbers. I'm excited that we'll be able to go three deep and get the guys reps. That will encourage competition and hopefully establish that elusive depth that we're always after here at Wake Forest.

"This year we're running three groups. It really serves two purposes. One, we're getting a lot of reps to our twos and our threes. Because we have so many returning starters, those starters are getting a smaller percentage of the reps. We're not exposing them as much to potential injury. These are guys who have played a lot of football for us."

Sixth-year guys like defensive lineman Sulaiman Kamara and tight end Brandon Chapman have already played a ton of football at Wake Forest and don't necessarily need an abundance of live reps in the spring.

"We have those nine fifth-and-sixth year guys who are back," Clawson explained. "They need to play football and need to be in shape and go through their reads. They don't need the normal investment of reps in the spring, so we've kind of structured our team periods differently. Those mid-semester freshmen and guys who didn't play last year are getting a chance to develop.That also allows us to protect our older guys a little bit."

With spring camp cut short after just five practices last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Clawson is excited about the opportunity of getting all 15 allowed this spring.

"The only way they're going to get better is to give them work," he said. "The good thing is our depth allows us, at least at the start of spring, to go three-deep across the board. Our ones need to play football and need to get better. There's always technique stuff and things in which you can get better."

The players were off campus last summer, so there was a ton of time lost in the weight room. It's partially for that reason that Clawson decided to push back the start of spring camp this year, to allow for more time with new strength and conditioning coach Chad Bari and his staff. He believed it was vital developmental time needed for the long-term growth of the players and the program.

"I love the energy level," Clawson said about the opening days of camp. "We purposely delayed the start of practice here this year from late-February to late-March, because of how long the season was. Right now, that was a good decision. The energy level has been great.

"The goal is to have a robust roster that has depth. We just have to keep these guys healthy so that they can continue to practice and get better. We'll be on a schedule of three-a-week for the next three weeks, wrapping up in mid-April."

Clawson is at his most joyful when lifting up bowl championship trophies and leading spring camp, and it's easy to see how much he enjoys spending quality time with the players teaching the game of football during these 15 practices, devoid of the same pressures that come with game-week preparation in the fall.

"It's just to be out with our players," Clawson said. "Last year, we did the right thing by playing. It was good for the student-athletes to have something to do. Then there's the testing and medical care they received. I don't regret doing it. But it was not a lot of fun. It was a grind on the coaches and players — everybody involved. Now, there's light at the end of the tunnel. A lot of our players and staff have had the opportunity to be vaccinated.

"We're not there yet, but I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Just to be back out there with our football team, I see a lot of positive energy and enthusiasm for next season. Not just because we're going to have a good football team, but also because things are slowly starting to get back to normal. I don't know that it will get completely back to normal, but there's a sense of optimism."

The Deacs begin the 2021 season on Friday, Sept. 3 at Truist Field against Old Dominion, then will host Norfolk State and Florida State before venturing on the road. Wake Forest will play all three Big Four opponents in successive weeks starting with an October 30 contest back in Truist Field against Duke.

"It's all good," Clawson said about the schedule. "I like having a couple games at home to start. I like that the bye week is in the middle of the season. Certainly you like to have those bye weeks before you play the option teams like Army. I like that the Big Four games are late in the year. You want to play meaningful games late in the season, and anytime you play State, Duke or North Carolina, those are all games our fans get excited about. Certainly, finishing at Clemson and Boston College.

"The goal is that by November we're still in the race for the Atlantic Division championship. We'd love to get to the Clemson game with a shot to win the Atlantic."