Deacs Earn 11 Preseason Honors from Athlon Sports

Jahmal Banks at Vanderbilt in September of 2022 in Nashville, Tenn.

5/22/2023 3:28:00 PM | Football

Wake Forest honorees were highlighted by redshirt junior wide receiver Jahmal Banks who was placed on the First Team Offense by the publication.

By: Andrew Kovar

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The first preseason recognition for the Wake Forest football program came in with the Demon Deacons earning 11 All-ACC honors from Athlon Sports, as released by the publication Monday.

The Demon Deacons were one of just six schools in the conference to have double-digit honorees highlighted by junior wide receiver Jahmal Banks being chosen as a first-team selection by the publication.

In addition to Banks, redshirt junior wide receiver Donavon Greene and redshirt senior offensive lineman Michael Jurgens were named second-team offense while junior defensive lineman Jasheen Davis was named to the second-team defense. On the third-team offense was junior running back Justice Ellison, redshirt junior wide receiver Taylor Morin and redshirt junior offensive lineman DeVonte Gordon while senior linebacker Chase Jones was on the third-team defense. Listed on the fourth-team defense was junior defensive back Caelen Carson and junior defensive back Malik Mustapha while Morin was a fourth-team specialist at punt returner.

More on Banks

Banks had a breakout season during his sophomore campaign that included 42 receptions for 636 yards and nine touchdowns. Along with teammate Taylor Morin, Banks had the most touchdown receptions of any returning player in the conference. Additionally, Wake Forest has the three top returning touchdown reception leaders in the conference: Banks (9), Morin (9) and Donavon Greene (6). Additionally, he is one of four returning Wake Forest receivers with 550 yards or more during the 2022 season: Greene (642), Banks (636), Morin (575) and Ke'Shawn Williams (553). Three of those receivers have over 1,000 career yards: Morin (1,601), Greene (1,473) and Williams (1,001).

He also had the highest contested catch rate of anyone in the conference and his mark of 58.6 percent ranked fifth among Power-5 receivers in 2022.

Last season, Banks had three multi-touchdown games in the Demon Deacons 6-1 start to the season including a career-game against No. 5 Clemson when he snagged six catches for a career-high 141 yards and two scores, earning ACC Receiver of the Week honors. He also had multiple touchdowns in wins over Liberty and Boston College. Against the Eagles, he tallied a career-best seven receptions.

Athlon Preseason Honors

First-Team Offense