Wake Forest Athletics
#ProDeacs: 53-Man Roster
8/29/2023 7:01:00 PM | Football
The Demon Deacons are well represented on NFL rosters heading into the season with a program record 13 players making opening day rosters.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The 2023 NFL season begins on Thursday, September 7, with most of the teams kicking off Sunday, September 10. There are a program record 13 Demon Deacons currently on an active NFL roster preparing to make their mark next weekend.
Same Faces, New Teams
Safety Jessie Bates III is entering his sixth NFL season and first with the Atlanta Falcons after signing a four year, $64 million contract in March, the largest contract ever signed by Demon Deacon. Bates III spent the first five years of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played a major role in the team's run to the Super Bowl in 2022. So far, across 86 career games, he's accumulated 519 tackles, 16 interceptions and 49 pass deflections, including six tackles and an interception in the Big Game.
Defensive lineman Carlos "Boogie" Basham was recently traded from the Buffalo Bills to the New York Giants after spending two years with the former. The 2021 second-round pick has made 28 career appearances, racking up 38 tackles, 4.5 sacks and an interception.
Second-Year Updates
Last season was a great year for Wake Forest rookies. Not only did 2022 NFL Draft picks Zach Tom (fourth round, 140 overall) and Ja'Sir Taylor (sixth round, 214 overall) make an impact for their respective teams, but Luke Masterson made an instant impact for the Raiders after going undrafted.
Tom appeared in nine games (started the last three) on the offensive line last season for the Packers, as he saw action in all five positions except center. He finished the season with the best pass block grade (78.1) on the team according to Pro Football Focus.
Taylor spent most of the season on special teams for the Chargers in 2022, but saw action on the defensive side of the ball in the final seven games of the season, including a season-high 52 snaps in week 18. He posted the second-highest coverage grade on the team (83.6) according to PFF against the Rams.
Masterson tallied 59 tackles across 11 defensive appearances for the Raiders and led the entire team in tackles over the final four games (34). He recorded a career-high 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss in a week 15 win over the New England Patriots. At the end of the season, he solidified his spot as a starter and fellow Demon Deacon Justin Herron is slated to be the opening day starter at left tackle.
Rookie Spotlight
For the second-consecutive year, the Demon Deacons had two players drafted. Defensive Lineman Kobie Turner was the first Wake Forest player off the board in 2023, as the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the third round with the 89th overall pick. Wide receiver A.T. Perry was taken in the sixth round by the New Orleans Saints.
At Wake Forest, Turner posted a 92.2 PFF rating, the second-highest rating by a Power-5 defensive player. In addition to All-American honors, Turner was named Second-Team All-ACC by the AP and Third Team All-ACC by the league media and coaches.
Perry holds the Wake Forest program record with 28 touchdowns, which also is tied for seventh in ACC history. Additionally, he holds the single-season program record with 15 touchdown receptions during the 2021 season. Over Perry's career, he totaled 2,662 receiving yards, which ranks third in school history while also ranking sixth in program history with 171 career catches. The 2022 Phil Steele All-American and two-time First Team All-ACC selection capped his career with another stellar season, posting a career-best 81 receptions during his historic 2022 campaign while finishing with 1,096 receiving yards and 11 touchdown receptions.
In addition to the two draftees, Blake Whiteheart earned a spot on Arizona's 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent, as he will join fellow Demon Deacon Greg Dortch. The Winston-Salem native played a major role in Wake Forest's 2021 and 2022 campaigns which saw the Deacs post a 19-8 record with bowl wins over Rutgers (Gator Bowl) and Missouri (Gasparilla Bowl). In his senior season, he tallied a career-high 24 receptions for 295 yards and hauled in three touchdowns in the first four games of the season. In 2021, he helped clinch the ACC Atlantic Division title with a touchdown reception against Boston College.
Over the last four years, four undrafted free agent Demon Deacons have made the opening day roster as rookies.
#ProDeacs Week One Slate (All times eastern)
Same Faces, New Teams
Safety Jessie Bates III is entering his sixth NFL season and first with the Atlanta Falcons after signing a four year, $64 million contract in March, the largest contract ever signed by Demon Deacon. Bates III spent the first five years of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played a major role in the team's run to the Super Bowl in 2022. So far, across 86 career games, he's accumulated 519 tackles, 16 interceptions and 49 pass deflections, including six tackles and an interception in the Big Game.
Defensive lineman Carlos "Boogie" Basham was recently traded from the Buffalo Bills to the New York Giants after spending two years with the former. The 2021 second-round pick has made 28 career appearances, racking up 38 tackles, 4.5 sacks and an interception.
Second-Year Updates
Last season was a great year for Wake Forest rookies. Not only did 2022 NFL Draft picks Zach Tom (fourth round, 140 overall) and Ja'Sir Taylor (sixth round, 214 overall) make an impact for their respective teams, but Luke Masterson made an instant impact for the Raiders after going undrafted.
Tom appeared in nine games (started the last three) on the offensive line last season for the Packers, as he saw action in all five positions except center. He finished the season with the best pass block grade (78.1) on the team according to Pro Football Focus.
Taylor spent most of the season on special teams for the Chargers in 2022, but saw action on the defensive side of the ball in the final seven games of the season, including a season-high 52 snaps in week 18. He posted the second-highest coverage grade on the team (83.6) according to PFF against the Rams.
Masterson tallied 59 tackles across 11 defensive appearances for the Raiders and led the entire team in tackles over the final four games (34). He recorded a career-high 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss in a week 15 win over the New England Patriots. At the end of the season, he solidified his spot as a starter and fellow Demon Deacon Justin Herron is slated to be the opening day starter at left tackle.
Rookie Spotlight
For the second-consecutive year, the Demon Deacons had two players drafted. Defensive Lineman Kobie Turner was the first Wake Forest player off the board in 2023, as the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the third round with the 89th overall pick. Wide receiver A.T. Perry was taken in the sixth round by the New Orleans Saints.
At Wake Forest, Turner posted a 92.2 PFF rating, the second-highest rating by a Power-5 defensive player. In addition to All-American honors, Turner was named Second-Team All-ACC by the AP and Third Team All-ACC by the league media and coaches.
Perry holds the Wake Forest program record with 28 touchdowns, which also is tied for seventh in ACC history. Additionally, he holds the single-season program record with 15 touchdown receptions during the 2021 season. Over Perry's career, he totaled 2,662 receiving yards, which ranks third in school history while also ranking sixth in program history with 171 career catches. The 2022 Phil Steele All-American and two-time First Team All-ACC selection capped his career with another stellar season, posting a career-best 81 receptions during his historic 2022 campaign while finishing with 1,096 receiving yards and 11 touchdown receptions.
In addition to the two draftees, Blake Whiteheart earned a spot on Arizona's 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent, as he will join fellow Demon Deacon Greg Dortch. The Winston-Salem native played a major role in Wake Forest's 2021 and 2022 campaigns which saw the Deacs post a 19-8 record with bowl wins over Rutgers (Gator Bowl) and Missouri (Gasparilla Bowl). In his senior season, he tallied a career-high 24 receptions for 295 yards and hauled in three touchdowns in the first four games of the season. In 2021, he helped clinch the ACC Atlantic Division title with a touchdown reception against Boston College.
Over the last four years, four undrafted free agent Demon Deacons have made the opening day roster as rookies.
#ProDeacs Week One Slate (All times eastern)
- Jessie Bates III (ATL)
- Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- Kobie Turner (LAR), Ryan Smenda Jr. (LAR) and Phil Haynes (SEA)
- Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX)
- Ja'Sir Taylor (LAC)
- Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS)
- Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr. (NYG)
- This Week: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC)
- Luke Masterson (LV), Justin Herron (LV), Justin Strnad (DEN) and Essang Bassey (DEN)
- Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS)
- Greg Dortch (ARI) and Blake Whiteheart (ARI)
- Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commanders (Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- Zach Tom (GB)
- Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX)
- AT Perry (NO)
- Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS)
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