Melvin Taking Mindful Approach into Each Day
7/1/2025 7:46:00 AM | Football
“I just love going out there to compete with my brothers.” - Jeremiah Melvin
Just a few months ago, Wake Forest wide receiver Jeremiah Melvin towered over his Demon Deacon teammates in the position room. At 6-foot-4, Melvin stood tall among the group, much like Scotty Washington (2015-19), who etched his name in the Wake Forest record book with the 12th-most career touchdowns (13), 15th-highest career receiving yards (1,676) and 20th in career receptions (110).
Melvin put together an impressive Spring Camp performance, but he isn't the only giant in the room now, as Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert and his staff added transfers Sterling Berkhalter, Sawyer Racanelli and Reginald Vick Jr. — all just one inch shy of Melvin.
"It's amazing," Melvin said about his teammates. "I just love going out there to compete with my brothers. No matter if we've got tall receivers or short receivers, we're all just trying to perfect our craft and work every day to be the best receiver group in the conference and in the nation. That's our goal."
Embracing the change that comes with a new coaching staff, as a redshirt freshman Melvin understands it's a fresh start for everyone as the Deacs prepare for the 2025 season opener against Kennesaw State at Allegacy Stadium on Aug. 29.
"It's been great, honestly," he said. " We've just been attacking it with a positive mindset. You've got two perspectives to look at — you can focus on the positive or the negative and think about the past. We're planning to move forward. And it's starting with the foundation of the program itself and us recognizing the standard: everything is rooted in competition.
"We're all competing for a spot on this team. A lot of us are unproven. Like Coach said, we're all freshmen—it's our first time being together and going through something new together, and it's just been fun. It's been a great new experience."
After playing just 22 snaps interspersed through three contests, Melvin retained his redshirt and will be using his first season of eligibility in 2025.
"For me personally, it's just the intent that I'm doing everything with," he said. "I'm mindful of how I approach every day—from meetings, to breakfast, to walkthroughs, to practice. I'm just trying to attack everything with the same mindset and treat everything the same, because you don't have time to adjust or flip the switch.
That switch always has to stay on. As a team, everyone is approaching it with that same mindset, and that's just been the beauty of it."
With a quarterback battle that will continue to be waged through Fall Camp and perhaps beyond, Melvin understands the importance of getting good reps with all the quarterbacks on the Wake Forest roster.
"It's amazing when you've got multiple quarterbacks who can sling the ball," Melvin said. "It's a beautiful thing. I love it—especially being a receiver. We love the ball. Building relationships with these guys off the field has been key. I appreciate all these guys—they're great guys on and off the field. That's a battle for the coaches to decide, but I'm with whoever they put back there."
But it's not just relationships with the quarterbacks that have been cultivated. With a roster blended between returning upperclassmen, incoming true freshmen and the most amount of transfers in Demon Deacon history; team building is of utmost importance.
"Going out in the heat, chilling, watching film together, just playing pitch and catch in the indoor facility, joking around in the locker room—we're doing all kinds of things," Melvin said. "We just have to create that bond now because it's a bond that lasts a lifetime.
"Change is unity, and that unity is really showing. From the people on the sideline to us as teammates, you're able to see it. It speaks volumes."
Melvin put together an impressive Spring Camp performance, but he isn't the only giant in the room now, as Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert and his staff added transfers Sterling Berkhalter, Sawyer Racanelli and Reginald Vick Jr. — all just one inch shy of Melvin.
"It's amazing," Melvin said about his teammates. "I just love going out there to compete with my brothers. No matter if we've got tall receivers or short receivers, we're all just trying to perfect our craft and work every day to be the best receiver group in the conference and in the nation. That's our goal."
Embracing the change that comes with a new coaching staff, as a redshirt freshman Melvin understands it's a fresh start for everyone as the Deacs prepare for the 2025 season opener against Kennesaw State at Allegacy Stadium on Aug. 29.
"It's been great, honestly," he said. " We've just been attacking it with a positive mindset. You've got two perspectives to look at — you can focus on the positive or the negative and think about the past. We're planning to move forward. And it's starting with the foundation of the program itself and us recognizing the standard: everything is rooted in competition.
"We're all competing for a spot on this team. A lot of us are unproven. Like Coach said, we're all freshmen—it's our first time being together and going through something new together, and it's just been fun. It's been a great new experience."
After playing just 22 snaps interspersed through three contests, Melvin retained his redshirt and will be using his first season of eligibility in 2025.
"For me personally, it's just the intent that I'm doing everything with," he said. "I'm mindful of how I approach every day—from meetings, to breakfast, to walkthroughs, to practice. I'm just trying to attack everything with the same mindset and treat everything the same, because you don't have time to adjust or flip the switch.
That switch always has to stay on. As a team, everyone is approaching it with that same mindset, and that's just been the beauty of it."
With a quarterback battle that will continue to be waged through Fall Camp and perhaps beyond, Melvin understands the importance of getting good reps with all the quarterbacks on the Wake Forest roster.
"It's amazing when you've got multiple quarterbacks who can sling the ball," Melvin said. "It's a beautiful thing. I love it—especially being a receiver. We love the ball. Building relationships with these guys off the field has been key. I appreciate all these guys—they're great guys on and off the field. That's a battle for the coaches to decide, but I'm with whoever they put back there."
But it's not just relationships with the quarterbacks that have been cultivated. With a roster blended between returning upperclassmen, incoming true freshmen and the most amount of transfers in Demon Deacon history; team building is of utmost importance.
"Going out in the heat, chilling, watching film together, just playing pitch and catch in the indoor facility, joking around in the locker room—we're doing all kinds of things," Melvin said. "We just have to create that bond now because it's a bond that lasts a lifetime.
"Change is unity, and that unity is really showing. From the people on the sideline to us as teammates, you're able to see it. It speaks volumes."
Players Mentioned
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