Wake Forest Athletics
Consistent Energy Turning into Chemistry
6/6/2025 7:43:00 AM | Football
“Bringing the energy feels like the easiest way to bond as a team. Everyone has been bonding well.” - Rushaun Tongue
Wake Forest Football head coach Jake Dickert was told repeatedly early in his tenure that the defensive secondary offered the largest opportunity for improvement, and that was a fair and honest assessment. Seemingly every season, some of the top performers at safety and corner went down with injuries and down the stretch the depth struggled to keep up with some of the ACC's more talented receivers.
But then the Demon Deacons went through the paces of a 15-practice Spring Camp and Dickert liked what he's seen so far.
"We've been performing pretty well," redshirt sophomore safety Rushaun Tongue said. "There are still some technical things we need to work on, and we have a few lumps to get over, but we're competing at a high level. With the coaches and the different defensive schemes they've brought in, we're picking it up pretty well, so I'm excited about it.
"We're learning day by day, and you can't compete with the energy we bring every day. Hopefully, all the different aspects of the techniques will come together."
With Dickert adding former Colorado State defensive coordinator Freddie Banks to coach the safeties, a room with several veterans are learning a new system and new terminology, but embracing the opportunity that comes with change.
"We have a different system and a new team this year, along with many transfers, so the energy is high as we try to build that team chemistry," Tongue said. "Everyone is still feeling each other out, so bringing the energy feels like the easiest way to bond as a team. Everyone has been bonding well.
"We have strong leadership here, with younger guys stepping up. That strong leadership is making the transition easier for both the transfer students and younger guys."
Playing in all 12 games in 24 as a redshirt freshman a season ago, Tongue contributed 35 tackles with one interception and a forced fumble. With a blended roster with nearly equal portions returning upperclassmen, true freshmen and transfers; one of the keys has been forgetting some of what they'd learned in the past.
"The biggest difference is really leaving the old system behind," Tongue said. "Wake Forest had a different identity before, and now we're trying to reinvent it. We want to leave the old ways behind and start fresh, ensuring that everyone, including the transfers and younger players, is on the same page.
"I loved my old coach, Coach Clawson, but the new energy we're bringing in and our efforts to start something new are really positive. The energy from the transfers to the newer guys is high, so the new staff coming in makes a difference. Bringing energy is the best way to build team chemistry."
The defensive staff, from defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton down, wants to see the players ingest this new system and then play on the field without overthinking things — play instinctually, fast and aggressively.
"It's not all perfect, but I believe it's better to be more aggressive than less aggressive, especially on defense," Tongue said. "We've been doing well with this approach. It's easier to calm things down than to try and increase aggression."
The safety room is replete with returning talent, experience and leadership; which makes the transition smoother for everyone involved.
"We have Nick Andersen, who is one of the best leaders I've been around," Tongue said. "Along with him, we have some young guys like Davaughn Patterson. Davaughn isn't very vocal, but he leads by example. We're working on building leadership, especially in our group, and I hope that can transfer throughout the defense and the entire team."
But then the Demon Deacons went through the paces of a 15-practice Spring Camp and Dickert liked what he's seen so far.
"We've been performing pretty well," redshirt sophomore safety Rushaun Tongue said. "There are still some technical things we need to work on, and we have a few lumps to get over, but we're competing at a high level. With the coaches and the different defensive schemes they've brought in, we're picking it up pretty well, so I'm excited about it.
"We're learning day by day, and you can't compete with the energy we bring every day. Hopefully, all the different aspects of the techniques will come together."
With Dickert adding former Colorado State defensive coordinator Freddie Banks to coach the safeties, a room with several veterans are learning a new system and new terminology, but embracing the opportunity that comes with change.
"We have a different system and a new team this year, along with many transfers, so the energy is high as we try to build that team chemistry," Tongue said. "Everyone is still feeling each other out, so bringing the energy feels like the easiest way to bond as a team. Everyone has been bonding well.
"We have strong leadership here, with younger guys stepping up. That strong leadership is making the transition easier for both the transfer students and younger guys."
Playing in all 12 games in 24 as a redshirt freshman a season ago, Tongue contributed 35 tackles with one interception and a forced fumble. With a blended roster with nearly equal portions returning upperclassmen, true freshmen and transfers; one of the keys has been forgetting some of what they'd learned in the past.
"The biggest difference is really leaving the old system behind," Tongue said. "Wake Forest had a different identity before, and now we're trying to reinvent it. We want to leave the old ways behind and start fresh, ensuring that everyone, including the transfers and younger players, is on the same page.
"I loved my old coach, Coach Clawson, but the new energy we're bringing in and our efforts to start something new are really positive. The energy from the transfers to the newer guys is high, so the new staff coming in makes a difference. Bringing energy is the best way to build team chemistry."
The defensive staff, from defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton down, wants to see the players ingest this new system and then play on the field without overthinking things — play instinctually, fast and aggressively.
"It's not all perfect, but I believe it's better to be more aggressive than less aggressive, especially on defense," Tongue said. "We've been doing well with this approach. It's easier to calm things down than to try and increase aggression."
The safety room is replete with returning talent, experience and leadership; which makes the transition smoother for everyone involved.
"We have Nick Andersen, who is one of the best leaders I've been around," Tongue said. "Along with him, we have some young guys like Davaughn Patterson. Davaughn isn't very vocal, but he leads by example. We're working on building leadership, especially in our group, and I hope that can transfer throughout the defense and the entire team."
Players Mentioned
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