Wake Forest Earns All-ACC Honors

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Twelve Wake Forest football players earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors, as announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon.

This marks the ninth consecutive season the Demon Deacons have had six or more players make the All-ACC teams. The Deacs' 74 All-ACC honors are the fifth most overall in the ACC since the 2019 season.

Redshirt senior defensive back Nick Andersen earned First Team All-ACC honors, becoming the first Wake Forest defensive back to earn First Team honors since Josh Bush in 2011.

Senior running back Demond Claiborne was placed on the Second Team All-ACC while defensive back Karon Prunty and redshirt freshman specialist Chris Barnes were on the Third Team All-ACC.

Additionally, redshirt senior offensive lineman Fa'alili Fa'amoe, redshirt senior offensive lineman George Sell, redshirt senior offensive lineman Devin Kylany, redshirt junior defensive lineman Langston Hardy, redshirt senior defensive lineman Jayden Loving, redshirt senior linebacker Dylan Hazen, redshirt sophomore defensive back Davaughn Patterson and redshirt freshman wide receiver Chris Barnes all earned honorable mention recognition from the voters.

First Team
Nick Andersen - All-ACC (S)

Andersen has recorded 94 total tackles this season, which is tied for the third most in the ACC.

ACC Total Tackle Leaders

Name	School	Tackles
Caden Fordham	NC State	130
Matt Rose	Stanford	106
*Nick Andersen*	*Wake Forest*	94
KP Price	Boston College	94
Sammy Brown	Clemson	91
Ahmaad Moses	SMU	91

Andersen's 7.8 tackles per game rank fourth among all ACC defensive players.

ACC Tackles Per Game Leaders

Name	School	Tackles Per Game
Caden Fordham	NC State	10.8
Matt Rose	Stanford	8.8
Cade Uluave	Cal	8.2
*Nick Andersen*	*Wake Forest*	*7.8*
KP Price	Boston College	7.8

In addition, Andersen's 41 solo tackles are the ninth-most in the league this season.
Overall, in his Wake Forest career, Andersen has collected 357 total tackles, which ranks 10th in program history and is the second-most by a Demon Deacon since 2000:

Wake Forest Total Tackles Since 2000

Rank Total Tackles
1. Nick Andersen (2020-Pres.) 357
2. Ryan Smenda Jr. (2018-22) 355
3. Aaron Curry (2005-08) 332
4. Ryan Janvion (2013-16) 328
5. Brandon Chubb (2012-15) 326

Andersen currently holds the 12th-best defensive grade according to PFF among all safeties in college football with a career-best 89.5 PFF grade.
- The 89.5 defensive grade is the highest among ACC safeties.
- Andersen also sits ninth in the ACC (27th nationally) with an 88.9 coverage grade.

Second Team
Demond Claiborne - All-ACC (RB)

Demond Claiborne's 10 rushing touchdowns are tied for the fifth-most in the ACC and tied for fourth among ACC running backs.

ACC Rushing Touchdown Leaders

Name (Pos.)	School	Rushing Touchdowns
Haynes King (QB)	Georgia Tech	15
J'Mari Taylor (RB)	Virginia	14
Kendrick Raphael (RB)	Cal	12
Anderson Castle (RB)	Duke	11
*Demond Claiborne (RB)*	*Wake Forest*	10
Mark Fletcher Jr. (RB)	Miami	10

Additionally, Claiborne ranks third in the ACC in rushing yards, having totaled 812 yards (81.2 ypg) across the first 10 games this season.

ACC Rushing Yard Leaders

Name (Pos.)	School	Yards
J'Mari Taylor (RB)	Virginia	997
Hollywood Smothers (RB)	NC State	939
Haynes King (QB)	Georgia Tech	922
*Demond Claiborne (RB)*	*Wake Forest*	*907*
Nate Sheppard (RB)	Duke	865

Claiborne's 154 rushing attempts are the third-most in the league this season while his 5.3 yards per rush is fifth among players with more than 100 rushing attempts in the ACC.
Claiborne has amassed over 100 all-purpose yards four times this season:
- Nov. 15, 2025 vs. North Carolina - 110 APR (98 RUSH, 12 RCV)
- Oct. 11, 2025 at Oregon State - 170 APR (144 RUSH, 26 RCV)
- Sept. 27, 2025 vs. GT - 128 APR (119 RUSH, 9 RCV)
- Sept. 6, 2025 vs WCU - 191 APR (193 RUSH, -2 RCV, 0 KR)
Claiborne's 1,065 all-purpose yards (907 RUSH, 140 RCV, 18 RETURN) rank sixth among primary ACC running backs.

ACC All-Purpose Yards (RBs)

Name	School	RUSH	RCV	RETURN	APY
J'Mari Taylor	Virginia	997	219	20	1,236
Hollywood Smothers	NC State	939	189	0	1,128
Adam Randall	Clemson	779	246	182	1,207
Nate Sheppard	Duke	865	235	22	1,122
Kendrick Raphael	Cal	853	231	0	1.084
*Demond Claiborne*	*Wake Forest*	*907*	*140*	18	*1,065*

Third Team
Karon Prunty - All-ACC (CB)

Prunty has started every single game for the Demon Deacons at corner this season, totaling 34 tackles, nine pass defenses and an interception.
His nine pass breakups are the most on the team and tied for the sixth-most in the ACC.
Prunty is listed as one of the best cornerbacks in college football by PFF, as his career-best 87.6 defensive grade is ranked eighth among college cornerbacks and second in the ACC.
- Additionally, his 88.2 coverage grade is the eighth-highest grade among college cornerbacks.

Chris Barnes - All-ACC (Specialist)

Barnes has totaled 234 kick return yards this season, putting him in a tie for the third most in the ACC this season.
- Barnes is also one of only three players in the ACC to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season, as he recorded a 98-yard kickoff return on the opening play of the game against NC State.

ACC Kick Return Leaders

Name	School	Kick Return Yards
Jacob De Jesus	Cal	282
Cam Ross	Virginia	248
*Chris Barnes*	*Wake Forest*	*234*
Jayden Scott	NC State	234
Caulin Lacy	Louisville	234

ACC Kickoff Return Touchdown Leaders

Name	School	KO Touchdowns
*Chris Barnes*	*Wake Forest*	1
Sahmir Hagans	Duke	1
Cam Ross	Virginia	1

In addition to his role as an outstanding kick returner, Barnes has also logged a team-high 34 catches for 504 yards and three touchdowns.
- All three of his touchdowns came against Oregon State, helping him earn ACC Rookie of the Week.
Barnes has totaled the third-most receiving yards among ACC freshmen. Barnes also has the second-most touchdown receptions among ACC rookies.

ACC Freshman Receiving Yard Leaders

Name	School	Receiving Yards
Malachi Toney	Miami	698
Micahi Danzy	Florida State	522
*Chris Barnes*	*Wake Forest*	*504*
Jordan Allen	Georgia Tech	293
Teddy Hoffman	NC State	293

ACC Freshman Receiving Touchdown Leaders

Name	School	Receiving TDs
Malachi Toney	Miami	5
*Chris Barnes*	*Wake Forest*	3
Jalen Cooper	SMU	2
Micahi Danzy	Florida State	2
Teddy Hoffman	NC State	2
Joshua Moore	Miami	2

Overall, Barnes has totaled 792 all-purpose yards, which puts him in 20th in the ACC and fourth among ACC freshmen.

ACC Freshman All-Purpose Yard Leaders

Name	School	All-Purpose Yards
Malachi Toney	Miami	916
Nate Sheppard	Duke	879
Jayden Scott	NC State	803
*Chris Barnes*	*Wake Forest*	*792*
Micahi Danzy	Florida State	734

Honorable Mention

C - Devin Kylany
- Last season, Demon Deacon quarterbacks were sacked a total of 42 times which ranked 125th in FBS. The Deacs' 3.5 sacks allowed per game last season ranked 127th in FBS (eighth most)
  - This season, Wake Forest has allowed just 14 total sacks (1.40/G), tied for the third-fewest in the ACC.
- Kylany has started every game at center for the Demon Deacons, totaling 654 offensive snaps this season.
- Kylany's 77.2 pass block grade ranks 81st among all centers in the country.
OT - Fa'alili Fa'amoe
- Last season, Demon Deacon quarterbacks were sacked a total of 42 times which ranked 125th in FBS. The Deacs' 3.5 sacks allowed per game last season ranked 127th in FBS (eighth most)
  - This season, Wake Forest has allowed just 14 total sacks (1.40/G), tied for the third-fewest in the ACC.
- Fa'amoe has logged 584 offensive snaps this season, including 323 passing snaps and 261 rushing snaps.
- Fa'amoe currently holds a 63.0 PFF grade, including a 69.2 pass block grade.
OG - George Sell
- Last season, Demon Deacon quarterbacks were sacked a total of 42 times which ranked 125th in FBS. The Deacs' 3.5 sacks allowed per game last season ranked 127th in FBS (eighth most)
  - This season, Wake Forest has allowed just 14 total sacks (1.40/G), tied for the third-fewest in the ACC.
- Sell has played all 654 offensive snaps at guard for the Demon Deacons this season.
- Sell's 76.3 pass block grade is ranked 143rd among guards.
LB - Dylan Hazen
- Hazen has recorded the third-most tackles on the team with 58 this season.
  - Hazen also ranks second on the team with 8.5 tackles-for-loss, which places him 12th in the ACC this season.
- Hazen has forced a pair of fumbles this season, which is tied for the fourth-most in the ACC this season.
  - Meanwhile, Hazen's two fumble recoveries are tied for the most in the ACC and tied for seventh in the country.

ACC Forced Fumble Leaders

Name	School	Forced Fumbles
Avieon Terrell	Clemson	4
Omar Thornton	Boston College	4
Mitchell Melton	Virginia	3
*Dylan Hazen*	*Wake Forest*	2
Gabe Kirschke	Wake Forest	2

ACC Fumble Recovery Leaders

Name	School	Fumble Recoveries
*Dylan Hazen*	*Wake Forest*	2
Jayden Loving	Wake Forest	2
Link Rhodes	SMU	2
Kyle Louis	Pitt	2
David Reese	Syracuse	2

DE - Langston Hardy
- Hardy has recorded 13 tackles-for-loss this season, the second-most in the ACC this season.

ACC Tackles-For-Loss Leaders

Name	School	Solo TFLs	Assist TFLs	TFL Yards	Total TFLs
Isaiah Smith	SMU	13	6	66	16.0
*Langston Hardy*	*Wake Forest*	10	6	51	*13.0*
Vincent Anthony Jr.	Duke	9	5	42	11.5
Cade Uluave	Cal	9	3	34	10.5
Akheem Mesidor	Miami	8	5	58	10.5

Of his team-high 13.0 tackles-for-loss, Hardy has totaled 5.5 sacks this season, which is tied for sixth in the ACC.
Additionally, Hardy has added six quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery while totaling 54 tackles (21 solo, 33 assists).

DB - Davaughn Patterson
- Patterson has logged a career-high 31 solo tackles, as he has totaled 65 tackles this season.
  - His 65 total tackles, which rank second on the team, currently place him 16th in the ACC.
- Patterson has also totaled a career-high nine pass breakups this season to go along with his one interception.
  - The nine pass breakups are tied for the third-most in the ACC for the 2025 season.

ACC Pass Breakup Leaders

Name	School	Pass Breakups
Brent Austin	Cal	13
Hezekiah Masses	Cal	11
*Davaughn Patterson*	*Wake Forest*	9
Avieon Terrell	Clemson	9
Demetres Samuel Jr.	Syracuse	9

Players Mentioned

Nick Andersen

Chris Barnes

Demond Claiborne

Fa’alili Fa’amoe

Langston Hardy

Dylan Hazen

Gabe Kirschke

Devin Kylany

Jayden Loving

Davaughn Patterson

Karon Prunty

George Sell

Wake Forest Athletics