Football
Hunter, John
John Hunter
- Title:
- Running Backs
- Email:
- hunterjl@wfu.edu
- Phone:
- 336-758-5782
John Hunter, who has transformed Wake Forest’s running back room and helped offensive coordinator Warren Ruggiero run the most prolific offenses in Wake Forest history over the past seven years, is set to enter his 11th season at Wake Forest in 2024.
Hunter, Ruggiero, head coach Dave Clawson and the entire offensive staff have engineered an attack that has rewritten the record books at Wake Forest. The Deacons have set nearly 400 school records including marks for points scored, points per game, total offensive yards, first downs and passing yards over the past five seasons. Also, the Deacs were the only football program in the ACC to average at least 30 points per game each year during that aforementioned six-year span. That run ranks as the fourth longest in ACC history.
The improvement in Wake Forest’s rushing attack under Hunter’s leadership has been astounding, as the Deacs have rushed for more than 2,000 yards in four of the past seven seasons. Additionally, Wake Forest accomplished that streak in three-straight years from 2017-19 marking the first time that has happened since 1994-96.
Overall since 2017, Wake Forest has rushed for 145 touchdowns and that total is one of the most productive seven-year stretches in program history. Those 131 scores on the ground ranks tied for 64th in the FBS during that span and sits sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The scores have led Wake Forest to total 2,910 points over the past seven seasons and average 33.5 ppg. Both those marks rank second in the ACC behind Clemson as well, respectively. These totals are the most of any seven-year period in school history.
Individually, Hunter has coached four separate Doak Walker Award candidates during his time at Wake Forest in Matt Colburn II, Cade Carney, Kenneth Walker III and Justice Ellison.
In 2022 as the Demon Deacons ranked tied for first in the conference in points per game (36.1) and had two rushers (Ellison & Christian Turner) each total over 500-yards on the ground and the duo combined for 13 running touchdowns. Overall as a rushing attack, the Deacs totaled 1,696 rushing yards on 505 carries with 17 touchdowns.
During the 2023 campaign, Hunter helped Demond Caliborne to a breakout campaign that helped him earn All-ACC honors. Claiborne finished the season with 905 all-purpose yards including four games of 100-plus all-purpose yards. Three of those games came in the last five games of his season.
Entering the 2024 season, the Demon Deacons have now produced a rushing score in 36 of their last 40 games dating back to Dec. 12, 2020.
Specifically in 2021, Wake Forest rushed for 31 touchdowns. The total ranked tied for 16th in the country and was the highest total in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Overall as an offense, the Deacs scored a program-best 574 points and averaged a school-record 41.0 ppg. That point total ranks 43rd in modern FBS history and the fourth-most in ACC history. Additionally, Wake Forest became just the 20th ACC team in the college football modern era (Post-WWII) to cross over the milestone of 500 points scored in a single season. Individually, the Deacons topped 35 points in a game 12 times during the 2021 campaign. In the College Football Playoff Era, Wake Forest is one of seven teams (2014 Oregon, 2018 Alabama, 2018 Oklahoma, 2019 Alabama, 2019 LSU, 2020 Alabama) to accomplish that feat.
Prior to coming to Winston-Salem, Hunter spent eight years on the Bowling Green coaching staff working with the running backs. He was retained on the staff when Clawson took over the Falcons program in 2009 and took on additional responsibilities as recruiting coordinator.
A 1988 graduate of BGSU, Hunter started his coaching career in the Detroit area as he became the head coach at Pershing High School in 2000. In his six seasons, Pershing posted a 40-28 record, made four appearances in the state playoffs and earned a pair of district titles.
Prior to his stint at Pershing High School, Hunter was an assistant coach at St. Martin DePorres in 1989 and from 1994-99. He was the defensive backs coach for a team that won the state championship in 1989 and was defensive coordinator from 1994-99, also winning state titles in 1995 and 1996. As a player, he also played on state title teams at DePorres in 1981 and 1982.
A four-year starter for Bowling Green at defensive end, Hunter earned All-MAC honors in 1986 and 1987 and helped the Falcons to the 1985 MAC title and a berth in the California Bowl. As a redshirt freshman, Hunter had nine tackles and three sacks in a win over Toledo. He led the 1985 BGSU team with eight sacks. Hunter finished his career with 336 tackles and 44 tackles for loss. He signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers following his senior season.
A native of Detroit, he and his wife, Amara, have a son, John, who plays football at Appalachian State, and a daughter, Justiss.
Wake Forest (2014-Present)
Postseason History
Personal Information
Hunter, Ruggiero, head coach Dave Clawson and the entire offensive staff have engineered an attack that has rewritten the record books at Wake Forest. The Deacons have set nearly 400 school records including marks for points scored, points per game, total offensive yards, first downs and passing yards over the past five seasons. Also, the Deacs were the only football program in the ACC to average at least 30 points per game each year during that aforementioned six-year span. That run ranks as the fourth longest in ACC history.
The improvement in Wake Forest’s rushing attack under Hunter’s leadership has been astounding, as the Deacs have rushed for more than 2,000 yards in four of the past seven seasons. Additionally, Wake Forest accomplished that streak in three-straight years from 2017-19 marking the first time that has happened since 1994-96.
Overall since 2017, Wake Forest has rushed for 145 touchdowns and that total is one of the most productive seven-year stretches in program history. Those 131 scores on the ground ranks tied for 64th in the FBS during that span and sits sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The scores have led Wake Forest to total 2,910 points over the past seven seasons and average 33.5 ppg. Both those marks rank second in the ACC behind Clemson as well, respectively. These totals are the most of any seven-year period in school history.
Individually, Hunter has coached four separate Doak Walker Award candidates during his time at Wake Forest in Matt Colburn II, Cade Carney, Kenneth Walker III and Justice Ellison.
In 2022 as the Demon Deacons ranked tied for first in the conference in points per game (36.1) and had two rushers (Ellison & Christian Turner) each total over 500-yards on the ground and the duo combined for 13 running touchdowns. Overall as a rushing attack, the Deacs totaled 1,696 rushing yards on 505 carries with 17 touchdowns.
During the 2023 campaign, Hunter helped Demond Caliborne to a breakout campaign that helped him earn All-ACC honors. Claiborne finished the season with 905 all-purpose yards including four games of 100-plus all-purpose yards. Three of those games came in the last five games of his season.
Entering the 2024 season, the Demon Deacons have now produced a rushing score in 36 of their last 40 games dating back to Dec. 12, 2020.
Specifically in 2021, Wake Forest rushed for 31 touchdowns. The total ranked tied for 16th in the country and was the highest total in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Overall as an offense, the Deacs scored a program-best 574 points and averaged a school-record 41.0 ppg. That point total ranks 43rd in modern FBS history and the fourth-most in ACC history. Additionally, Wake Forest became just the 20th ACC team in the college football modern era (Post-WWII) to cross over the milestone of 500 points scored in a single season. Individually, the Deacons topped 35 points in a game 12 times during the 2021 campaign. In the College Football Playoff Era, Wake Forest is one of seven teams (2014 Oregon, 2018 Alabama, 2018 Oklahoma, 2019 Alabama, 2019 LSU, 2020 Alabama) to accomplish that feat.
Prior to coming to Winston-Salem, Hunter spent eight years on the Bowling Green coaching staff working with the running backs. He was retained on the staff when Clawson took over the Falcons program in 2009 and took on additional responsibilities as recruiting coordinator.
A 1988 graduate of BGSU, Hunter started his coaching career in the Detroit area as he became the head coach at Pershing High School in 2000. In his six seasons, Pershing posted a 40-28 record, made four appearances in the state playoffs and earned a pair of district titles.
Prior to his stint at Pershing High School, Hunter was an assistant coach at St. Martin DePorres in 1989 and from 1994-99. He was the defensive backs coach for a team that won the state championship in 1989 and was defensive coordinator from 1994-99, also winning state titles in 1995 and 1996. As a player, he also played on state title teams at DePorres in 1981 and 1982.
A four-year starter for Bowling Green at defensive end, Hunter earned All-MAC honors in 1986 and 1987 and helped the Falcons to the 1985 MAC title and a berth in the California Bowl. As a redshirt freshman, Hunter had nine tackles and three sacks in a win over Toledo. He led the 1985 BGSU team with eight sacks. Hunter finished his career with 336 tackles and 44 tackles for loss. He signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers following his senior season.
A native of Detroit, he and his wife, Amara, have a son, John, who plays football at Appalachian State, and a daughter, Justiss.
Wake Forest (2014-Present)
- John Hunter has transformed Wake Forest’s running back room and helped offensive coordinator Warren Ruggiero run the most prolific offenses in Wake Forest history over the past six years,
- Hunter, Ruggiero, head coach Dave Clawson and the entire offensive staff have engineered an attack that has rewritten the record books at Wake Forest. The Deacons have set nearly 400 school records including marks for points scored, points per game, total offensive yards, first downs and passing yards over the past five seasons.
- Also, the Deacs were the only football program in the ACC to average at least 30 points per game each year during that aforementioned six-year span. That run ranks as the fourth longest in ACC history.
- The improvement in Wake Forest’s rushing attack under Hunter’s leadership has been astounding, as the Deacs have rushed for more than 2,000 yards in four of the past seven seasons. Additionally, Wake Forest accomplished that streak in three-straight years from 2017-19 marking the first time that has happened since 1994-96.
- Overall since 2017, Wake Forest has rushed for 145 touchdowns and that total is one of the most productive seven-year stretches in program history. Those 131 scores on the ground ranks tied for 64th in the FBS during that span and sits sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
- The scores have led Wake Forest to total 2,910 points over the past seven seasons and average 33.5 ppg. Both those marks rank second in the ACC behind Clemson as well, respectively. These totals are the most of any seven-year period in school history.
- Individually, Hunter has coached four separate Doak Walker Award candidates during his time at Wake Forest in Matt Colburn II, Cade Carney, Kenneth Walker III and Justice Ellison.
- During the 2023 campaign, Hunter helped Demond Caliborne to a breakout campaign that helped him earn All-ACC honors. Claiborne finished the season with 905 all-purpose yards including four games of 100-plus all-purpose yards. Three of those games came in the last five games of his season.
Entering the 2024 season, the Demon Deacons have now produced a rushing score in 36 of their last 40 games dating back to Dec. 12, 2020.- Wake Forest football’s mantra for the 2022 season was “MINDSET” as the Demon Deacons looked to follow up its historic year in 2021.
- The Deacs won eight games in a season for just the 10th time in the 115-year history of the program.
- With the win over Missouri on Friday and a victory in Week 2 at Vanderbilt, Wake Forest defeated two programs from the Southeastern Conference this fall for the first time since 2008, and just the second time in program history the Deacs accomplished this feat in a single season.
- The 2022 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl marked Wake Forest’s seventh-straight bowl appearance, a new school record.
- Additionally, the Demon Deacons’ streak is the second-longest active streak in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the 12th longest in the nation.
- Wake Forest finished the 2022 season averaging 36.1 points per game, helping the Deacs post its sixth-consecutive season of averaging 30 or more points a game. This is the longest active streak and the fourth longest in ACC history.
- The Deacs had two rushers (Justice Ellison & Christian Turner) each total over 500-yards on the ground and the duo combined for 13 running touchdowns. Overall as a rushing attack, the Deacs totaled 1,696 rushing yards on 505 carries with 17 touchdowns.
- Wake Forest’s mantra in 2021 was, “Good to Great,” as Coach Clawson, Ruggiero and the staff looked to take the next step as a program.
- The 2021 Wake Forest football team capped off its historic season on New Year's Eve, defeating Big Ten foe Rutgers in the 77th annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl 38-10 inside TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville.
- Wake Forest (11-3, 7-1 ACC) became just the second team in program history to win double-digit games and tied the program record with 11 victories while also setting a program record with seven conference victories and finished the home season with a perfect 6-0 mark. Wake Forest went 5-3 on the season in road or neutral site games for the first time since the 2018 season.
- Additionally with a perfect 6-0 mark this season, the Deacs recorded their first undefeated home record for the first time since 1979 and just the third time since Wake Forest’s 1970 ACC Championship team. Meanwhile, six home wins ties the program record that was set in 2019.
- Wake Forest was one of 10 Power-5 schools in 2021 to win 11 games.
- The Demon Deacons were also the first school in the conference to become bowl eligible with a perfect mark of 6-0 in 2021. The Deacs 8-0 start to the season was the best in school history in addition to having the longest winning streak in school history.
- 2021 Offensive Recap:
- Wake Forest topped 35 points in a game 12 times during the season. In the College Football Playoff Era, the Demon Deacons are one of seven teams (2014 Oregon, 2018 Alabama, 2018 Oklahoma, 2019 Alabama, 2019 LSU, 2020 Alabama) to accomplish that feat.
- The Demon Deacons scored a combined 574 points during the 2021 season. Wake Forest became the first team in program history to cross over the 500-point mark. That point total ranks 43rd in FBS history and the fourth-most in ACC history. Additionally, Wake Forest became just the 20th ACC team in the college football modern era (Post-WWII) to cross over the milestone of 500 points scored in a single season.
- Wake Forest’s program record 574 points ranks seventh in ACC history for points scored in a single season.
- Wake Forest set a program record by averaging 41.0 points per game and Wake Forest is now the only school in the Atlantic Coast Conference to average at least 30 points per game over the past five seasons.
- The Demon Deacons set a program record for total yards with 6,550 yards of offense this fall. The average of 467.9 yards per game was also a new program record.
- Wake Forest reset its program mark for first downs with 354 in 2021.
- Five student-athletes accounted for a Warren Ruggiero and John Hunter-era record 31 rushing touchdowns. That total is the most since 2003 and tied for the second-most all-time in Wake Forest history.
- Those 31 rushing scores were tied for 16th in the country and was the highest total in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
- Behind a balanced rushing attack, Wake Forest had three different running backs (Christian Beal-Smith, Justice Ellison, Christian Turner) each rush for over 500 yards.
- This marked the third time this feat was accomplished during the Clawson-Hunter era (2016, 2019). Prior to 2016, WF last accomplished this in 1971.
- In 2020, the duo of Christian Beal-Smith and Kenneth Walker III was tough to stop for ACC defenses with each back rushing for 550 yards in the shortened season.
- Wake Forest tied the most rushing touchdowns in the Dave Clawson era and the most since the 2010 season, tallying 22.
- Over a six-game stretch, Walker III totaled 13 rushing touchdowns, finishing just two away from the program record of 15 in a single season.
- The Doak Walker Award nominee became the second player in the Dave Clawson and John Hunter-era to rush for double-digit touchdowns.
- Beal-Smith, who led the Deacs with 732 yards on the ground, earned himself two running back of the week honors en route to being named an All-ACC honorable mention selection.
- In 2019, Hunter worked with senior Cade Carney who spent his entire career under Hunter’s direction and finished as the No. 7 rusher in school history with 2,446 yards. Rookie Kenneth Walker III set a school record for the most yards per carry by a true freshman, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
- Hunter tutored three players to rush for at least 500 yards for the second time during his tenure at Wake Forest (2016).
- The 2018 season showed more dominance by the Wake Forest rushing attack.
- The Deacons were the only ACC Atlantic Division team to have two different rushers each post a 200-yard game as Carney torched Duke for 223 yards after Matt Colburn, II had piled up 243 yards in a victory at Louisville.
- Carney became Wake Forest’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2005, as the Deacons rushed for 200 or more yards six times.
- In 2018, Wake Forest posted three consecutive 250-yard rushing games for the first time since 1971 and Colburn finished as the sixth-leading rusher in school history.
- Wake Forest’s team success has translated into individual accolades as Colburn earned a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Rams prior to the 2019 NFL season.
- In 2017, Hunter’s charges helped lead a resurgence in the Deacons’ offensive fortunes.
- Wake Forest set school records for total offense yards and points scored in a season as well as a 4.57 yards-per-carry average. Wake Forest posted its fourth-best rushing season in history with 2,456 yards.
- Matt Colburn, II collected four 100-yard rushing games, including a career-best 237 in a win over Syracuse and a school bowl record 150 yards in the Belk Bowl victory over Texas A&M.
- In 2016, three Demon Deacons rushed for over 500 yards marking the first time since 1971 that three different rushers cracked that mark.
- Cade Carney became the first freshman to score three touchdowns in a game since 2002 while Colburn posted a pair of 100-yard rushing games.
- Wake Forest’s rushing attack was the most improved in the nation in 2015, increasing its production by more than 150 percent.
- Hunter spent eight years on the Bowling Green coaching staff working with the running backs. Retained on the staff when Dave Clawson took over the BGSU program in 2009, Hunter took on additional responsibilities as recruiting coordinator.
- Under Hunter’s guidance, a number of Bowling Green running backs found success. Chris Bullock was named a Freshman All-American in 2006, while Anthon Samuel earned Freshman All-America honors in 2011.
- During his time at BGSU, Hunter coached three different running backs to All-America, All-MAC and MAC Freshman of the Year honors.
- The Falcons’ rushing offense ranked 39th in the nation in 2013 with 193.4 yards per game.
- The 2012 season marked one of Hunter’s best coaching jobs of his career, helping the Falcons transform from a passing team to a strong rushing attack.
- BGSU recorded its most rushing yards since 2006 and had four games of over 200 yards on the ground. Samuel had 998 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, finishing two yards shy of becoming just the 10th Falcon to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season.
- In 2011, Samuel ran for 844 yards and five touchdowns, earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors.
- Samuel was the first running back in school history to win the award and was third in the country among freshmen running backs, averaging 93.8 yards per game.
- Hunter molded Willie Geter into a third-team All-MAC performer as a senior in 2010, and helped him finish his career with 2,156 rushing yards, eighth-most in school history.
- In his six seasons, Pershing posted a 40-28 record, made four appearances in the state playoffs and earned a pair of district titles.
- Served as the defensive backs coach for a team which won the state championship in 1989 and was defensive coordinator from 1994-99, also winning state titles in 1995 and 1996.
- A four-year starter for Bowling Green at defensive end, Hunter earned All-MAC honors in 1986 and 1987 and helped the Falcons to the 1985 MAC title and a berth in the California Bowl. As a redshirt freshman, Hunter had nine tackles and three sacks in a win over archrival Toledo. He led the 1985 BGSU team with eight sacks. Hunter finished his career with 336 tackles and 44 tackles for loss. He signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers following his senior season.
- In high school at St. Martin DePorres, he also played on state title teams in 1981 and 1982.
- A native of Detroit, he and his wife, Amara, have a son, John, who plays football at Appalachian State, and a daughter, Justiss.
| Seasons | School/Team | Title/Position Coached |
| 2014-Present | Wake Forest | Running Backs |
| 2009-13 | BGSU | Recruiting Coordinator/Running Backs |
| 2006-08 | BGSU | Running Backs |
| 2000-05 | Pershing HS | Head Coach |
| 1994-99 | St. Martin DePorres HS | Defensive Coordinator |
| 1994-99 | St. Martin DePorres HS | Defensive Backs |
Postseason History
| Season | Bowl Game | Opponent | Result |
| 2022 | Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (Wake Forest) | Missouri | W, 27-17 |
| 2021 | TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Wake Forest) | Rutgers | W, 38-10 |
| 2020 | Duke's Mayo Bowl (Wake Forest) | Wisconsin | L, 28-42 |
| 2019 | Pinstripe Bowl (Wake Forest) | Michigan State | L, 27-21 |
| 2018 | Birmingham Bowl (Wake Forest) | Memphis | W, 31-34 |
| 2017 | Belk Bowl (Wake Forest) | Texas A&M | W, 51-52 |
| 2016 | Military Bowl (Wake Forest) | Temple | W, 34-26 |
| 2013 | Little Caesars Bowl (BGSU) | Pittsburgh | L, 30-27 |
| 2012 | Military Bowl (BGSU) | San Jose State | L, 29-20 |
| 2009 | Humanitarian Bowl (BGSU) | Idaho | L, 43-42 |
| 2007 | GMAC Bowl (BGSU) | Tulsa | L, 63-7 |
Personal Information
- Birthday: July. 18, 1965
- Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
- Education: 1988 – Bachelor’s from BGSU
- Wife: Amara
- Children: John, Justiss
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
Saturday, September 06
