Sell Taking New Perspective and Role into Final Year
6/9/2025 7:11:00 AM | Football
“I’ve had to embrace the role of being a leader in the group.” - George Sell
Returning to play as a sixth-year senior, Wake Forest offensive lineman George Sell has been accustomed in previous years to following the leadership of players like Devonte Gordon, Michael Jurgens and Spencer Clapp — players who were deep in their college football careers because of redshirt seasons, the extra year of COVID eligibility and injuries.
This year that onus is suddenly thrust upon him, while also adjusting to a dramatically different group of teammates and a brand new coaching staff.
"When I was talking to my position coach — coach (Jared) Kaster — and (Wake Forest head) coach (Jake) Dickert, they said they were really going to lean on me," Sell said. "I've had to embrace the role of being a leader in the group. I'm not necessarily used to that, just because, in the past, a lot of those guys from the COVID class — the super seniors — came back.
"So I've had to embrace the leadership role, and that's been cool. They've encouraged me to do it. I know they've leaned on me. I'm on the leadership council on the team, so that's been really cool."
It's been a long, winding path to the 2025 football season for Sell, who has seen action in 23 of the 24 Wake Forest Football games combined the last two seasons.
"Man, I get a COVID year," Sell said he thought when he arrived at Wake Forest in 2020. Then he was redshirted.
"I have the potential to be here for six years," he thought at the time.
"Then I blinked, and here we are," Sell said with a chuckle. "It's year six. There are five or six guys still here who were on that 2020 team."
As Dave Clawson stepped aside to assume an administrative role at Wake Forest and Dickert was hired as the new head coach just days later, Sell remained calm.
"I feel like one of the first things is that I have such a strong community here — both inside and outside the football team," he said. "I'm part of an organization called Athletes in Action, which is a student ministry for athletes. I remember I was really praying about it.
"I just didn't know what I was going to do—if I was going to stay or leave. I really made up my mind. Obviously, he (Clawson) was going to come back, so when I heard he had left, I just had this peace about it, a peace over myself that the next coach they hired was going to be good. So far, it's been that way. But I just had a huge peace about staying, and more so from a faith standpoint. I just felt comfortable. I felt at peace staying here."
Dickert and his staff have ignited a sense of excitement and energy into the program, and that is evident visually as the Deacs attacked Spring Camp earlier this year.
"I feel like in years past, sometimes we'd roll out here for practice and it would just be kind of slow," Sell said. "We'd do our job, but it seemed like we were just doing it to do it — not for fun. But now, when you see other people in other position groups, and even in our group — the offensive line — it's like, if we're juiceless, we're useless. So we need to go out and do our job every single day."
This year that onus is suddenly thrust upon him, while also adjusting to a dramatically different group of teammates and a brand new coaching staff.
"When I was talking to my position coach — coach (Jared) Kaster — and (Wake Forest head) coach (Jake) Dickert, they said they were really going to lean on me," Sell said. "I've had to embrace the role of being a leader in the group. I'm not necessarily used to that, just because, in the past, a lot of those guys from the COVID class — the super seniors — came back.
"So I've had to embrace the leadership role, and that's been cool. They've encouraged me to do it. I know they've leaned on me. I'm on the leadership council on the team, so that's been really cool."
It's been a long, winding path to the 2025 football season for Sell, who has seen action in 23 of the 24 Wake Forest Football games combined the last two seasons.
"Man, I get a COVID year," Sell said he thought when he arrived at Wake Forest in 2020. Then he was redshirted.
"I have the potential to be here for six years," he thought at the time.
"Then I blinked, and here we are," Sell said with a chuckle. "It's year six. There are five or six guys still here who were on that 2020 team."
As Dave Clawson stepped aside to assume an administrative role at Wake Forest and Dickert was hired as the new head coach just days later, Sell remained calm.
"I feel like one of the first things is that I have such a strong community here — both inside and outside the football team," he said. "I'm part of an organization called Athletes in Action, which is a student ministry for athletes. I remember I was really praying about it.
"I just didn't know what I was going to do—if I was going to stay or leave. I really made up my mind. Obviously, he (Clawson) was going to come back, so when I heard he had left, I just had this peace about it, a peace over myself that the next coach they hired was going to be good. So far, it's been that way. But I just had a huge peace about staying, and more so from a faith standpoint. I just felt comfortable. I felt at peace staying here."
Dickert and his staff have ignited a sense of excitement and energy into the program, and that is evident visually as the Deacs attacked Spring Camp earlier this year.
"I feel like in years past, sometimes we'd roll out here for practice and it would just be kind of slow," Sell said. "We'd do our job, but it seemed like we were just doing it to do it — not for fun. But now, when you see other people in other position groups, and even in our group — the offensive line — it's like, if we're juiceless, we're useless. So we need to go out and do our job every single day."
Players Mentioned
Wake Forest Football Highlights vs WCU (Sept 6, 2025)
Sunday, September 07
Sterling Berkhalter snags a 51-yard touchdown
Saturday, September 06
Demond Claiborne takes it 85 yards for his 3rd TD of the day
Saturday, September 06
Claiborne get his 2nd score of the day
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