Hernandez Helping Bridge the Gap in Dickert’s First Season
6/5/2025 7:53:00 AM | Football
“When I came on my visit, it felt like home already.” - Carlos Hernandez
Entering the Transfer Portal just a couple days following the Washington State Holiday Bowl loss to Syracuse, Carlos Hernandez became a coveted target for several programs, but quickly found a home at Wake Forest.
"It was just about finding the best spot for me — honestly, the best fit," he said. "When I came on my visit, it felt like home already. I knew all the coaches here, the strength staff — it's the same staff. So, I felt like it was a no-brainer at that point. Just to be with the same coach, especially Coach (Jake) Dickert. He's a great coach who knows what he wants from me. That decision was pretty much made up after the transfer portal opened."
As a productive and energetic Spring Camp wrapped up for the Demon Deacons, Hernandez was better able to quantify the similarities and differences from where both he and Dickert came.
"I'd probably say the weather is a lot better out here," he said with a chuckle. "I mean, those mornings at Washington State were cold, coming out there when it was icy. Nobody likes that. But the weather's nice out here—it's nice and breezy, and the sun's out. So it's definitely a good vibe over here, for sure.
"The schedule is pretty much similar, so I am getting used to the school and the academics here, and my surroundings are a little new."
With multiple quarterbacks vying for the starting role in Spring Camp that's likely going to extend through Fall Camp and even beyond, Hernandez and the rest of the receivers had to create a connection and find the perfect timing with multiple signal callers.
"Once we get to that point, the offense is going to be a step ahead of the defense every day," Hernandez said. "We did have a slow start, but as we continue to build our connection as receivers, we'll just keep making plays for the offense.
"The different reps with different quarterbacks is a bit hard sometimes. But the extra work we put in before spring kind of helped us there. I think more reps later on in the spring will help us get to the point where we can just go on the field and make plays with each other."
Installing a fervent focus on energy, Dickert seemingly came away pleased with that aspect in all but one of the 15 Spring Camp practices; but had little problem expressing his displeasure in the one mid-camp workout that fell short. It's something Hernandez had heard before in the past.
"Plenty of times," he said. "He's a coach who knows what he wants from practice and from us. So he sets a standard every time, and he expects that standard every time we go out to practice.
"To be honest, the offense was doing great. We were killing it in one-on-ones. But yeah, it was a little slow to start for both sides. I could feel the energy was a bit low at the beginning of practice, but as soon as practice wrapped up, we got it together."
Hernandez played in 20 total games for Washington State over the last two seasons, with 31 receptions for 397 yards and five scores in 2024. Having an existing relationship with Dickert meant he was often asked to help explain things to returning Demon Deacons who hadn't yet figured everything out.
"As soon as we got here, we had our own sprint workouts and fourth quarters," Hernandez said. "A lot of questions were asked, like 'What's Coach Dickert like? What's the schedule?' I was more than happy to help them out and give them the advice they needed. But yeah, a lot of people were asking questions."
"It was just about finding the best spot for me — honestly, the best fit," he said. "When I came on my visit, it felt like home already. I knew all the coaches here, the strength staff — it's the same staff. So, I felt like it was a no-brainer at that point. Just to be with the same coach, especially Coach (Jake) Dickert. He's a great coach who knows what he wants from me. That decision was pretty much made up after the transfer portal opened."
As a productive and energetic Spring Camp wrapped up for the Demon Deacons, Hernandez was better able to quantify the similarities and differences from where both he and Dickert came.
"I'd probably say the weather is a lot better out here," he said with a chuckle. "I mean, those mornings at Washington State were cold, coming out there when it was icy. Nobody likes that. But the weather's nice out here—it's nice and breezy, and the sun's out. So it's definitely a good vibe over here, for sure.
"The schedule is pretty much similar, so I am getting used to the school and the academics here, and my surroundings are a little new."
With multiple quarterbacks vying for the starting role in Spring Camp that's likely going to extend through Fall Camp and even beyond, Hernandez and the rest of the receivers had to create a connection and find the perfect timing with multiple signal callers.
"Once we get to that point, the offense is going to be a step ahead of the defense every day," Hernandez said. "We did have a slow start, but as we continue to build our connection as receivers, we'll just keep making plays for the offense.
"The different reps with different quarterbacks is a bit hard sometimes. But the extra work we put in before spring kind of helped us there. I think more reps later on in the spring will help us get to the point where we can just go on the field and make plays with each other."
Installing a fervent focus on energy, Dickert seemingly came away pleased with that aspect in all but one of the 15 Spring Camp practices; but had little problem expressing his displeasure in the one mid-camp workout that fell short. It's something Hernandez had heard before in the past.
"Plenty of times," he said. "He's a coach who knows what he wants from practice and from us. So he sets a standard every time, and he expects that standard every time we go out to practice.
"To be honest, the offense was doing great. We were killing it in one-on-ones. But yeah, it was a little slow to start for both sides. I could feel the energy was a bit low at the beginning of practice, but as soon as practice wrapped up, we got it together."
Hernandez played in 20 total games for Washington State over the last two seasons, with 31 receptions for 397 yards and five scores in 2024. Having an existing relationship with Dickert meant he was often asked to help explain things to returning Demon Deacons who hadn't yet figured everything out.
"As soon as we got here, we had our own sprint workouts and fourth quarters," Hernandez said. "A lot of questions were asked, like 'What's Coach Dickert like? What's the schedule?' I was more than happy to help them out and give them the advice they needed. But yeah, a lot of people were asking questions."
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