Wake Forest Athletics
Claiborne Selected in Sixth Round by the Minnesota Vikings
4/25/2026 5:17:00 PM | Football
Since the 2017 NFL Draft, the Demon Deacons have had 57 players selected or signed NFL contracts.
Claiborne is just the fourth Wake Forest player to ever be chosen by the Vikings and the first since offensive lineman was taken in 2024 in the seventh round.
This marks the first Wake Forest running back to be drafted since 2013 when the New York Jets selected Tommy Bohanon in the seventh round.
Claiborne is just the fifth Wake Forest player to ever be chosen by the Vikings and the first since offensive lineman Michael Jurgens was taken in 2024 in the seventh round.
Wake Forest has now had at least one pick in every NFL Draft since 2017 with the exception of last season. Additionally during this streak, the Demon Deacons have had 57 players sign NFL contracts.
In 2024, the Deacs had three draftees in the NFL Draft when San Francisco chose fourth-round pick Malik Mustapha, Dallas Cowboys selected fifth-round pick Caelen Carson and Minnesota Vikings drafted seventh-round pick Michael Jurgens. The three selections were the most since four Deacs were taken in the 2012 NFL Draft.
From head coach Jake Dickert
"With Demond, the Vikings are not only getting one of the most explosive athletes I have ever coached but they are also getting the ultimate competitor. His numbers speak for themselves in terms of being one of the best running backs in school history. He is also an explosive kick returner and will be an asset to teams on special teams. He's worked his tail off to get to this point and I am excited to see him continue to grow at the next level."
From Mel Kiper, ESPN
"He's a guy who's got the natural cutback ability. He's got the burst through the hole with cut back ability. He runs with conviction as well to the low center of gravity. You see him get to the outside, and then he's off to the races. He can hit the home run. As a running back, you are getting into tough runner in traffic that is able to break a long distance run. He was able to do that."
Louis Riddick, ESPN
"Pound for pound, he was as tough as anybody in this draft. When this dude goes, he is gone, despite his being, what, 5-9, 198. He was gone."
More on Demond Claiborne
The two-time All-American selection at Wake Forest, finished his career fourth on the all-time Wake Forest rushing list:
All-Time Rushing Yards
| Rank | Name | Career Rushing Yards |
| 1. | Chris Barclay (2002-05) | 4,032 |
| 2. | James McDougland (1976-79) | 3,811 |
| 3. | Michael Ramseur (1982-85) | 3,325 |
| 4. | Demond Claiborne (2022-Pres.) | 2,599 |
| 5. | Tarence Williams (1999-02) | 2,581 |
Claiborne also finished his career with 26 rushing touchdowns, good for fifth-best in Wake Forest history while totaling 3,602 all-purpose yards, ninth-most in school history.
In 2025, he recorded 140 receiving yards, breaking the 1,000-plus all-purpose yards threshold back-to-back years as he also led the Deacs with 907 rushing yards.
Claiborne 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. He also earned ACC running back of the week honors after tallying 144 yards and a touchdown on the ground against Oregon State (10/11).
What's Out There?
Check out all the social media buzz around Demond Claiborne being selected by the Vikings.
EMBEDDED TWEETS/SOCIAL POSTS
Building up the backfield. pic.twitter.com/oMvbT9R8yW
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 25, 2026
Our guy is going to Minnesota @ClaiborneDemond 💫 pic.twitter.com/41wBNEYQK7
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 25, 2026
#Vikings landed an bursty runner with three-down value as an explosive perimeter player and receiver in Demond Claiborne
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) April 25, 2026
His 4.37 forty time at the NFL Combine shows up on film at Wake Forest and during @ShrineBowl week as a runner and out of the backfield.
He'll play a big… pic.twitter.com/IAdF9ephWb
DRAFTED ✅
— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) April 25, 2026
Congratulations to Demond Claiborne (@ClaiborneDemond) from @WakeFB on being drafted by the @Vikings in the 2026 #NFLDraft#ShrineBowlPRO | #SKOL pic.twitter.com/iyRgmknMkj
Demond Claiborne is just blazing fast 💨
— Underdog NFL Draft - Josh & Hayden (@UDFootballShow) April 25, 2026
He projects as a big boom-or-bust prospect for the Vikings pic.twitter.com/HCiovq5NZz
Demond Claiborne was drafted in round 6 with pick 198 in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 7.58 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 559 out of 2306 RB from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/vaaMEDfNwZ pic.twitter.com/9NewMNzzDE
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 25, 2026
