Photo by: Helen McGinnis / Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Set to Take Center Stage at 2025 ACC Kickoff
7/22/2025 9:16:00 AM | Football
Follow the Deacs as head coach Jake Dickert, defensive back Nick Andersen, running back Demond Claiborne, offensive lineman Devin Kylany and defensive back Davaughn Patterson as they represent Wake Forest at 2025 ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, N.C.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest defensive back Nick Andersen, running back Demond Claiborne, offensive lineman Devin Kylany and defensive back Davaughn Patterson are set to represent the Demon Deacons along with head coach Jake Dickert at the 2025 ACC Kickoff on Wednesday, July 23 in Charlotte, N.C.
Coach Jake Dickert and Wake Forest's student-athletes are scheduled to be live at the podium at 3:00 p.m. on ACC Network Extra followed by appearances on the ACC Network set. The entire two-day event can be seen live on ACC Network as well as on the ESPN App.
Wake Forest scheduled appearances on the ACC Network sets can also be streamed live on ESPN.com/Watch:
Wake Forest Football Overview
Under the leadership of head coach Jake Dickert, the Wake Forest football program is ready to enter a new era heading into the 2025 season.
The Demon Deacons will look to build on previous success and that starts by "Protecting The Forest" and winning at home inside Allegacy Stadium. Since the start of the 2019 season, Wake Forest's 24 home victories ranks tied for seventh in the ACC during that span.
That standard will look to be upheld and more under Coach Dickert as he leads the program behind the core value, Deliver Your B.E.S.T.
Coach Dickert was a stabilizing force for the Washington State program in 2021 and turned it into one of the best programs on the west coast during his time in Pullman. He spent the final five games of the 2021 season as acting head coach, leading Washington State to a 3-2 record, earning a trip to the Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl. The Apple Cup win in 2021 snapped a seven-game skid to Washington and was the Cougar's largest margin of victory in series history. Additionally, he helped the program navigate PAC-12 turmoil in 2024, helping guide the team to 8-4 season.
Coach Dickert has had a winning record and gone to a bowl three times during his time as a head coach. His teams started the 2024 season with a record of 8-1 and the 2023 season 4-0 while also beating three ranked teams in 2022 and 2023 and beat rival Washington multiple times.
During his time on the Palouse, he trained 2024 Heisman Finalist Cam Ward and 2024 Manning Finalist John Mateer. He also has had seven players drafted to the NFL in the last three years alone. With Dickert and Mateer this season, Washington State had the No. 11 scoring offense in the country in 2024, scoring nearly 37 points per game.
That identification of talent continued into his first offseason as the Wake Forest head coach, signing a top-30 transfer class in the country. Redshirt senior offensive lineman Fa'alili Fa'amoe, redshirt senior offensive lineman Devin Kylany, redshirt sophomore defensive back Sascha Garcia, redshirt junior defensive lineman Gabe Kirschke and junior wide receiver Carlos Hernandez bolster an impact class.
In total, Wake Forest added 17,703 career snaps across 30 incoming midyear transfers who will integrate into the team for winter workouts and spring practice.
Those additions will play alongside a key group of high level talent that returns from the 2024 team, highlighted by All-American running back Demond Claiborne. The senior is the ACC's second leading returner rusher in the ACC with 1,049 yards and also the ACC's second leading returner in all-purpose yards with 1,579 yards. Last season, he ranked 11th nationally with 131.7 all-purpose yards per game.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Deacs return multi-year starters and rising stars in redshirt senior defensive back Nick Andersen, redshirt senior linebacker Dylan Hazen and redshirt sophomore defensive back Davaughn Patterson.
Andersen is one of 10 returning players in FBS to have 120 or more tackles in 2024. He led the ACC with 122 total tackles in 2024 which was also the most by a Wake Forest player since Marquis Hopkins in 2001 (125 tackles).
Hazen and Patterson both started all 12 games in the front seven for Wake Forest last season and both recorded over 74 tackles for the Demon Deacons in 2024.
Feedback
As fans have questions, feedback or ideas, Wake Forest Athletics encourages you to email wfsports@wfu.edu with those thoughts.
Coach Jake Dickert and Wake Forest's student-athletes are scheduled to be live at the podium at 3:00 p.m. on ACC Network Extra followed by appearances on the ACC Network set. The entire two-day event can be seen live on ACC Network as well as on the ESPN App.
Wake Forest scheduled appearances on the ACC Network sets can also be streamed live on ESPN.com/Watch:
- Demond Claiborne (10:45 a.m. ET)
- Nick Andersen and Davaughn Patterson (10:55 a.m. ET)
- Head Coach Jake Dickert (3:30 p.m. ET)
Wake Forest Football Overview
Under the leadership of head coach Jake Dickert, the Wake Forest football program is ready to enter a new era heading into the 2025 season.
The Demon Deacons will look to build on previous success and that starts by "Protecting The Forest" and winning at home inside Allegacy Stadium. Since the start of the 2019 season, Wake Forest's 24 home victories ranks tied for seventh in the ACC during that span.
That standard will look to be upheld and more under Coach Dickert as he leads the program behind the core value, Deliver Your B.E.S.T.
Coach Dickert was a stabilizing force for the Washington State program in 2021 and turned it into one of the best programs on the west coast during his time in Pullman. He spent the final five games of the 2021 season as acting head coach, leading Washington State to a 3-2 record, earning a trip to the Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl. The Apple Cup win in 2021 snapped a seven-game skid to Washington and was the Cougar's largest margin of victory in series history. Additionally, he helped the program navigate PAC-12 turmoil in 2024, helping guide the team to 8-4 season.
Coach Dickert has had a winning record and gone to a bowl three times during his time as a head coach. His teams started the 2024 season with a record of 8-1 and the 2023 season 4-0 while also beating three ranked teams in 2022 and 2023 and beat rival Washington multiple times.
During his time on the Palouse, he trained 2024 Heisman Finalist Cam Ward and 2024 Manning Finalist John Mateer. He also has had seven players drafted to the NFL in the last three years alone. With Dickert and Mateer this season, Washington State had the No. 11 scoring offense in the country in 2024, scoring nearly 37 points per game.
That identification of talent continued into his first offseason as the Wake Forest head coach, signing a top-30 transfer class in the country. Redshirt senior offensive lineman Fa'alili Fa'amoe, redshirt senior offensive lineman Devin Kylany, redshirt sophomore defensive back Sascha Garcia, redshirt junior defensive lineman Gabe Kirschke and junior wide receiver Carlos Hernandez bolster an impact class.
In total, Wake Forest added 17,703 career snaps across 30 incoming midyear transfers who will integrate into the team for winter workouts and spring practice.
Those additions will play alongside a key group of high level talent that returns from the 2024 team, highlighted by All-American running back Demond Claiborne. The senior is the ACC's second leading returner rusher in the ACC with 1,049 yards and also the ACC's second leading returner in all-purpose yards with 1,579 yards. Last season, he ranked 11th nationally with 131.7 all-purpose yards per game.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Deacs return multi-year starters and rising stars in redshirt senior defensive back Nick Andersen, redshirt senior linebacker Dylan Hazen and redshirt sophomore defensive back Davaughn Patterson.
Andersen is one of 10 returning players in FBS to have 120 or more tackles in 2024. He led the ACC with 122 total tackles in 2024 which was also the most by a Wake Forest player since Marquis Hopkins in 2001 (125 tackles).
Hazen and Patterson both started all 12 games in the front seven for Wake Forest last season and both recorded over 74 tackles for the Demon Deacons in 2024.
Feedback
As fans have questions, feedback or ideas, Wake Forest Athletics encourages you to email wfsports@wfu.edu with those thoughts.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ FootballWake Forest Football Highlights vs. Virginia Tech (Oct. 4, 2025)
Sunday, October 05
Eni Falayi TD grab before the end of the half
Saturday, October 04
Demond Claiborne scores the Deacs' first TD of the day
Saturday, October 04
Wake Forest Football | Virginia Tech Trailer
Saturday, October 04