Wake Forest Athletics
Photo by: Helen McGinnis / Wake Forest Athletics
Coach Dickert Announces New Staff & Graduate Assistants
3/6/2025 4:11:00 PM | Football
Wake Forest Football has five assistant staff members to help the coaching staff and four graduate assistants.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest Athletics and head coach Jake Dickert have assembled a dedicated group of nine staff members focused on mentoring and developing student-athletes while assisting in game planning and all aspects of play on both sides of the ball.
"I'm incredibly excited about the group of staff and graduate assistants we've assembled here at Wake Forest," Coach Dickert said. "Each of these individuals brings passion, expertise, and a commitment to developing our student-athletes both on and off the field. Their dedication to the program, attention to detail, and ability to teach the game at a high level will be instrumental in our success. I can't wait to see the impact they'll have on our team this season and beyond."
This group is led by previously announced Assistant Head Coach, Justin Kramer as well as its coordinators and assistant coaches.
Jeb Rice, Offensive Analyst
Jeb Rice will enter his first season on Coach Jake Dickert's staff at Wake Forest University in 2025 as an offensive analyst. He joined the Winston-Salem community after serving as the Assistant Quarterbacks Coach at the University of South Alabama where he worked closely with Demon Deacons Offensive Coordinator Rob Ezell.
Prior to that aforementioned role at South Alabama, Rice spent nearly three years as an Offensive Student Assistant at South Alabama, where he worked extensively with wide receivers and quarterbacks under coaches Michael Smith, Major Applewhite, and Eric Ponio.
In addition to his collegiate experience, Rice interned with Quarterback Country, where he assisted in training quarterbacks of all levels, from middle school to the NFL. Working alongside respected coaches like David Morris and Bryant Elmore, he contributed to quarterback drills, film study, and event organization, including the first annual Riley Leonard Football Camp.
A graduate of the University of South Alabama, Rice earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and was named to the Dean's List.
Carter Webb, Assistant Offensive Line
Carter Webb is set to enter his first season with the Demon Deacons in 2025 on Coach Jake Dickert's staff as an Assistant for the Offensive Line. He came to Winston-Salem from Washington State where he was an Offensive Assistant and worked with the offensive line.
Prior to his role at Washington State, Carter spent two years as an Offensive Graduate Assistant at Western Kentucky University, where he worked directly with the offensive line coach and run game coordinator.
Carter began his coaching journey as an Offensive Student Assistant at Western Kentucky, where he worked with the running backs and defensive staff.
A two-time graduate of Western Kentucky University, Carter holds a B.S. in Sport Management and an M.S. in Intercollegiate Athletics.
Kyle Thornton, Defense Quality Control
Kyle Thornton joined Coach Jake Dickert's staff in March 2024 as a Defensive Quality Control staff member. He played for Coach Dickert at Washington State as he was a team captain and middle linebacker. Over his six-year playing career (2019-24), he rose from a walk-on to a respected leader, setting the standard for performance, discipline, and accountability.
Off the field, Thornton excelled academically, earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics (Magna Cum Laude) in 2022 and is on track to complete his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in May 2025, maintaining a 3.88 GPA. His commitment to excellence was recognized with numerous accolades, including Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2024), the Admiral U.S. Grant Sharp Trophy (2024), and Cougar Student-Athlete of the Year (2024).
Rhett Purling, Assistant Special Teams
Rhett Purling joined Coach Jake Dickert's staff in Feb. 2025 as an assistant for Wake Forest's special teams. He joined the Winston-Salem community after serving as the Special Teams Coordinator at Long Island University during the 2024 season.
Before joining LIU, Purling served as a Special Teams Analyst at Marshall University. Additionally, his coaching experience includes a role at Boston College as a Recruiting Intern and Running Backs Assistant, and at Bryant University where he worked as a Special Teams Quality Control coach.
A Kansas native, Purling holds an Associate of Arts from Coffeyville Community College and a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from Oregon State University.
Jake Benzinger, Graduate Assistant, Offensive Line
Jake Benzinger, who graduated from Wake Forest in 2019 with a B.A/S. in Economics with a minor in Politics and International Studies, will enter his second year as a graduate assistant with the offensive line in 2025. He was a three-year starter on the offensive line for the Deacs from 2017-19, joining the staff as an offensive analyst in Jan. 2023. After that lone year in that role, he moved into a GA position prior to the 2024-25 academic year.
During his career on the field for Wake Forest, Benzinger started 40 games, including the final 39 of his career. He was named an honorable mention All-ACC performer in 2019 and helped the Deacs qualify for four-straight bowl games from 2016-19, including a trio of wins over Temple (Military Bowl), Texas A&M (Belk Bowl) and Memphis (Birmingham Bowl).
Benzinger helped anchor an offensive line that was one of the best in the country over his final three seasons in Winston-Salem. In 2019, Wake Forest finished 15th in the nation in total offense, the highest finish ever for a Demon Deacons team. The Deacs also posted an all-time best in third down conversions, finishing 13th nationally.
The beginning of Wake Forest's offensive explosion came in 2017 when the Deacs set over 100 team and individual records. Wake Forest set new standards for points scored (459) and total offense yards (6,055) in a season, while accumulating five of the top 10 offensive games in school history.
Following his career in the Old Gold & Black, he played in the East-West Shrine Game ahead of the 2020 NFL draft and signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent that spring. Professionally, he played for three franchises including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and Cardinals.
He joined the Wake Forest football staff following working for Inmar Intelligence as a Financial Analyst in Winston-Salem. Jake is married to his wife, Megan, and she graduated from Wake Forest in 2020.
Nasir Greer, Graduate Assistant, Defensive Backs
Nasir Greer, a 2021 Wake Forest graduate with a degree in Communication and Media Studies, will begin his first year as a graduate assistant on the football staff and his second year on the coaching staff in 2025. He returned to Winston-Salem in 2024 as a Defensive Quality Control role after having an accomplished college and professional career.
Greer was an All-ACC selection during his time as a Demon Deacon while also serving multiple years on the leadership committee within the team.
After helping lead the Deacs to one of their best seasons in program history in 2021 that included an ACC Atlantic and Gator Bowl Championship, Greer signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. Greer also went on to play in the XFL during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, winning an XFL Championship with Arlington Renegades in 2023.
Greer has also been an assistant coach at Landmark Christian School, coaching on both sides of the ball, with wide receivers, tight ends and defensive backs since 2022. He has also been a leader in his community, serving as a Minister Leader and Youth Minister Leader within multiple churches since 2022 while also volunteering in and around the Atlanta area, supporting youth, homeless and underserved communities.
Chase Jones, Graduate Assistant, Linebackers
Chase Jones, who was a standout linebacker at Wake Forest and a two-time graduate, will enter his second year as graduate assistant on the coaching staff in 2025. A two-time team captain and multi-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, Jones appeared in 41 games over the course of his career, totaling 208 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and multiple forced fumbles. In 2022, he started all 13 games, finishing second on the team with 74 tackles and recording an interception in the win over Liberty. He played a key role in Wake Forest's Gasparilla Bowl victory over Missouri.
Jones earned two degrees from Wake Forest University, including a Finance degree from the Business School and a Master's Degree in Financial Technology & Analytics. of Business Administration.
Izaiah Prouse-Lackey, Graduate Assistant, Wide Receivers
Izaiah Prouse-Lackey will enter his second year on the Wake Forest football staff in 2025 and his first as a graduate assistant. A year ago, Prouse-Lackey served as an Offensive Quality Control staffer.
He graduated from Florida State in 2018 with a Bachelor of Education and was a walk-on for the football team who lettered and earned a scholarship. He was a four-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) and earned Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors three times (2015, 2016, 2017) during his career.
Off the field during his time in Tallahassee, Prouse-Lackey was awarded the 2018 Chi Theta Chapter Superior Service Award. Additionally, he was the recipient of numerous scholarships including the Chi Omega Julius Fisher Scholarship, Hazel Royall Stephens O'Connor Dillmeier Scholarship, Burger King Scholarship and Asian & Pacific Islander Scholarship.
Upon graduation, he spent the Spring of 2019 as a volunteer at Florida State before spending the summer as the Bill Walsh Minority Diversity Fellow with the San Francisco 49ers. His first fall football with another program was spent in 2019 at East Tennessee State University where Prouse-Lackey was a Defensive Quality Control Assistant.
From 2020-21, Prouse-Lackey spent time in Atlanta, GA where he coached 7v7 with C1N and trained defensive players in the surrounding areas. In 2022, he was the Defensive Coordinator at East Lee County High School in Lehigh Acres, FL.
Prior to coming to Wake Forest in 2024, he spent the 2023 season as a graduate assistant at Murray State University for their football program.
"I'm incredibly excited about the group of staff and graduate assistants we've assembled here at Wake Forest," Coach Dickert said. "Each of these individuals brings passion, expertise, and a commitment to developing our student-athletes both on and off the field. Their dedication to the program, attention to detail, and ability to teach the game at a high level will be instrumental in our success. I can't wait to see the impact they'll have on our team this season and beyond."
This group is led by previously announced Assistant Head Coach, Justin Kramer as well as its coordinators and assistant coaches.
Jeb Rice, Offensive Analyst
Jeb Rice will enter his first season on Coach Jake Dickert's staff at Wake Forest University in 2025 as an offensive analyst. He joined the Winston-Salem community after serving as the Assistant Quarterbacks Coach at the University of South Alabama where he worked closely with Demon Deacons Offensive Coordinator Rob Ezell.
Prior to that aforementioned role at South Alabama, Rice spent nearly three years as an Offensive Student Assistant at South Alabama, where he worked extensively with wide receivers and quarterbacks under coaches Michael Smith, Major Applewhite, and Eric Ponio.
In addition to his collegiate experience, Rice interned with Quarterback Country, where he assisted in training quarterbacks of all levels, from middle school to the NFL. Working alongside respected coaches like David Morris and Bryant Elmore, he contributed to quarterback drills, film study, and event organization, including the first annual Riley Leonard Football Camp.
A graduate of the University of South Alabama, Rice earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and was named to the Dean's List.
Carter Webb, Assistant Offensive Line
Carter Webb is set to enter his first season with the Demon Deacons in 2025 on Coach Jake Dickert's staff as an Assistant for the Offensive Line. He came to Winston-Salem from Washington State where he was an Offensive Assistant and worked with the offensive line.
Prior to his role at Washington State, Carter spent two years as an Offensive Graduate Assistant at Western Kentucky University, where he worked directly with the offensive line coach and run game coordinator.
Carter began his coaching journey as an Offensive Student Assistant at Western Kentucky, where he worked with the running backs and defensive staff.
A two-time graduate of Western Kentucky University, Carter holds a B.S. in Sport Management and an M.S. in Intercollegiate Athletics.
Kyle Thornton, Defense Quality Control
Kyle Thornton joined Coach Jake Dickert's staff in March 2024 as a Defensive Quality Control staff member. He played for Coach Dickert at Washington State as he was a team captain and middle linebacker. Over his six-year playing career (2019-24), he rose from a walk-on to a respected leader, setting the standard for performance, discipline, and accountability.
Off the field, Thornton excelled academically, earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics (Magna Cum Laude) in 2022 and is on track to complete his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in May 2025, maintaining a 3.88 GPA. His commitment to excellence was recognized with numerous accolades, including Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2024), the Admiral U.S. Grant Sharp Trophy (2024), and Cougar Student-Athlete of the Year (2024).
Rhett Purling, Assistant Special Teams
Rhett Purling joined Coach Jake Dickert's staff in Feb. 2025 as an assistant for Wake Forest's special teams. He joined the Winston-Salem community after serving as the Special Teams Coordinator at Long Island University during the 2024 season.
Before joining LIU, Purling served as a Special Teams Analyst at Marshall University. Additionally, his coaching experience includes a role at Boston College as a Recruiting Intern and Running Backs Assistant, and at Bryant University where he worked as a Special Teams Quality Control coach.
A Kansas native, Purling holds an Associate of Arts from Coffeyville Community College and a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from Oregon State University.
Jake Benzinger, Graduate Assistant, Offensive Line
Jake Benzinger, who graduated from Wake Forest in 2019 with a B.A/S. in Economics with a minor in Politics and International Studies, will enter his second year as a graduate assistant with the offensive line in 2025. He was a three-year starter on the offensive line for the Deacs from 2017-19, joining the staff as an offensive analyst in Jan. 2023. After that lone year in that role, he moved into a GA position prior to the 2024-25 academic year.
During his career on the field for Wake Forest, Benzinger started 40 games, including the final 39 of his career. He was named an honorable mention All-ACC performer in 2019 and helped the Deacs qualify for four-straight bowl games from 2016-19, including a trio of wins over Temple (Military Bowl), Texas A&M (Belk Bowl) and Memphis (Birmingham Bowl).
Benzinger helped anchor an offensive line that was one of the best in the country over his final three seasons in Winston-Salem. In 2019, Wake Forest finished 15th in the nation in total offense, the highest finish ever for a Demon Deacons team. The Deacs also posted an all-time best in third down conversions, finishing 13th nationally.
The beginning of Wake Forest's offensive explosion came in 2017 when the Deacs set over 100 team and individual records. Wake Forest set new standards for points scored (459) and total offense yards (6,055) in a season, while accumulating five of the top 10 offensive games in school history.
Following his career in the Old Gold & Black, he played in the East-West Shrine Game ahead of the 2020 NFL draft and signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent that spring. Professionally, he played for three franchises including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and Cardinals.
He joined the Wake Forest football staff following working for Inmar Intelligence as a Financial Analyst in Winston-Salem. Jake is married to his wife, Megan, and she graduated from Wake Forest in 2020.
Nasir Greer, Graduate Assistant, Defensive Backs
Nasir Greer, a 2021 Wake Forest graduate with a degree in Communication and Media Studies, will begin his first year as a graduate assistant on the football staff and his second year on the coaching staff in 2025. He returned to Winston-Salem in 2024 as a Defensive Quality Control role after having an accomplished college and professional career.
Greer was an All-ACC selection during his time as a Demon Deacon while also serving multiple years on the leadership committee within the team.
After helping lead the Deacs to one of their best seasons in program history in 2021 that included an ACC Atlantic and Gator Bowl Championship, Greer signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. Greer also went on to play in the XFL during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, winning an XFL Championship with Arlington Renegades in 2023.
Greer has also been an assistant coach at Landmark Christian School, coaching on both sides of the ball, with wide receivers, tight ends and defensive backs since 2022. He has also been a leader in his community, serving as a Minister Leader and Youth Minister Leader within multiple churches since 2022 while also volunteering in and around the Atlanta area, supporting youth, homeless and underserved communities.
Chase Jones, Graduate Assistant, Linebackers
Chase Jones, who was a standout linebacker at Wake Forest and a two-time graduate, will enter his second year as graduate assistant on the coaching staff in 2025. A two-time team captain and multi-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, Jones appeared in 41 games over the course of his career, totaling 208 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and multiple forced fumbles. In 2022, he started all 13 games, finishing second on the team with 74 tackles and recording an interception in the win over Liberty. He played a key role in Wake Forest's Gasparilla Bowl victory over Missouri.
Jones earned two degrees from Wake Forest University, including a Finance degree from the Business School and a Master's Degree in Financial Technology & Analytics. of Business Administration.
Izaiah Prouse-Lackey, Graduate Assistant, Wide Receivers
Izaiah Prouse-Lackey will enter his second year on the Wake Forest football staff in 2025 and his first as a graduate assistant. A year ago, Prouse-Lackey served as an Offensive Quality Control staffer.
He graduated from Florida State in 2018 with a Bachelor of Education and was a walk-on for the football team who lettered and earned a scholarship. He was a four-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) and earned Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors three times (2015, 2016, 2017) during his career.
Off the field during his time in Tallahassee, Prouse-Lackey was awarded the 2018 Chi Theta Chapter Superior Service Award. Additionally, he was the recipient of numerous scholarships including the Chi Omega Julius Fisher Scholarship, Hazel Royall Stephens O'Connor Dillmeier Scholarship, Burger King Scholarship and Asian & Pacific Islander Scholarship.
Upon graduation, he spent the Spring of 2019 as a volunteer at Florida State before spending the summer as the Bill Walsh Minority Diversity Fellow with the San Francisco 49ers. His first fall football with another program was spent in 2019 at East Tennessee State University where Prouse-Lackey was a Defensive Quality Control Assistant.
From 2020-21, Prouse-Lackey spent time in Atlanta, GA where he coached 7v7 with C1N and trained defensive players in the surrounding areas. In 2022, he was the Defensive Coordinator at East Lee County High School in Lehigh Acres, FL.
Prior to coming to Wake Forest in 2024, he spent the 2023 season as a graduate assistant at Murray State University for their football program.
Players Mentioned
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