Wake Forest Athletics
Claiborne and Fa’amoe Invited to 2026 NFL Draft Combine
2/11/2026 3:16:00 PM | Football
The annual scouting event will take place in Indianapolis from February 23 through March 2 with televised on-field drills for Claiborne taking place on Saturday, Feb. 28 and Fa’amoe on Sunday, March 1.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Wake Forest football alumni running back Demond Claiborne and offensive lineman Fa'alili Fa'amoe have officially been invited to take part in the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. as announced by the NFL Wednesday.
The annual scouting event will take place in Indianapolis from February 23 through March 2 with televised on-field drills for Claiborne taking place on Saturday, Feb. 28 and Fa'amoe on Sunday, March 1.
Most recently, both players competed at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas on Jan. 27.
Claiborne and Fa'amoe were both captains during the historic nine-win season, marking just the fourth time in program history that the Demon Deacons have won nine or more games. The Deacs had the highest win percentage of any Power 4 program in the Carolinas, and tied for the highest win percentage of any FBS team overall in the Carolinas:
Earned Second Team All-ACC honors… Appeared in and started in 12 games for the Demon Deacons… Ran for 907 yards on 179 carries (5.1 YPC) … Ran for 10 touchdowns, marking the second straight season he scored double-digit touchdowns… Finished top-four in the ACC in both rush yards and touchdowns… Became Wake Forest's No. 4 all-time rusher with 2,599 career yards… Also finished with 26 rushing touchdowns, good for fifth-best in Wake Forest history… Totaled 3,602 all-purpose yards, ninth-most in school history… Recorded 140 receiving yards, breaking the 1,000+ all-purpose yards threshold back-to-back years… Earned ACC running back of the week honors following a monstrous performance against Western Carolina (9/6), running for a career-high 193 yards and three touchdowns… Also earned ACC running back of the week honors after tallying 144 yards and a touchdown on the ground against Oregon State (10/11)... Became the first offensive player in the Dickert era to earn a spot on an All-ACC team.
More on Fa'amoe's 2025 Season
Played in and started in 12 games for the Demon Deacons… One of four linemen to play 700+ snaps for the Deacs… Key part of an offensive line that paved the way for the ACC's sixth-best rushing attack… Played his best game of the season (per PFF) in the finale, helping the Demon Deacon offense score 43 points in the Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over Mississippi State (1/2).
The annual scouting event will take place in Indianapolis from February 23 through March 2 with televised on-field drills for Claiborne taking place on Saturday, Feb. 28 and Fa'amoe on Sunday, March 1.
Most recently, both players competed at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas on Jan. 27.
Claiborne and Fa'amoe were both captains during the historic nine-win season, marking just the fourth time in program history that the Demon Deacons have won nine or more games. The Deacs had the highest win percentage of any Power 4 program in the Carolinas, and tied for the highest win percentage of any FBS team overall in the Carolinas:
- Records of North & South Carolina FBS Programs:
- Wake Forest: 9-4 (ACC)
- East Carolina: 9-4 (American)
- Duke: 9-5 (ACC)
- NC State: 8-5 (ACC)
- Clemson Tigers: 7-6 (ACC)
- Coastal Carolina: 6-7 (Sun Belt)
- Appalachian State: 5-8 (Sun Belt)
- North Carolina: 4-8 (ACC)
- South Carolina: 4-8 (SEC)
- Charlotte 49ers: 1-11 (American)
Earned Second Team All-ACC honors… Appeared in and started in 12 games for the Demon Deacons… Ran for 907 yards on 179 carries (5.1 YPC) … Ran for 10 touchdowns, marking the second straight season he scored double-digit touchdowns… Finished top-four in the ACC in both rush yards and touchdowns… Became Wake Forest's No. 4 all-time rusher with 2,599 career yards… Also finished with 26 rushing touchdowns, good for fifth-best in Wake Forest history… Totaled 3,602 all-purpose yards, ninth-most in school history… Recorded 140 receiving yards, breaking the 1,000+ all-purpose yards threshold back-to-back years… Earned ACC running back of the week honors following a monstrous performance against Western Carolina (9/6), running for a career-high 193 yards and three touchdowns… Also earned ACC running back of the week honors after tallying 144 yards and a touchdown on the ground against Oregon State (10/11)... Became the first offensive player in the Dickert era to earn a spot on an All-ACC team.
More on Fa'amoe's 2025 Season
Played in and started in 12 games for the Demon Deacons… One of four linemen to play 700+ snaps for the Deacs… Key part of an offensive line that paved the way for the ACC's sixth-best rushing attack… Played his best game of the season (per PFF) in the finale, helping the Demon Deacon offense score 43 points in the Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over Mississippi State (1/2).
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