Atlantic · 2026

Wake Forest

2025 record 9–4 4–4 conference
Postseason Duke’s Mayo Bowl W 43–29 vs Mississippi State
Head coach Jake Dickert Year 2
Scheme Multiple / 4-2-5
Conference
C+

Dickert’s 9-win Year 1 and Lopez/Hernandez/Hardy are real, but the early chart’s portal OL/QB/RB churn pulls Wake back toward the middle

Portal
D+

Portal #15; Lopez is a major fit, yet the class ranks near the bottom and lacks top-end ACC volume

Depth
C

Defensive front and WR rooms have playable two-deeps; QB/RB/OL backups are mostly projection

Market odds

To Win ACC
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
To Make Conf. Championship
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
Over 5.5 wins
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%

Recruiting ranks

Overall #12 54 commits · 231.3 pts
Portal #15 24 commits· avg 85.38

Roster notes

Leading story

9–4 baseline with roster churn on the early chart

Offense

QB Gio Lopez over Steele Pizzella; RB Ty Clark III with KD Daniels / Sawyer Seidl; WRs Antonio Meeks / Carlos Hernandez / Kam Shanks; TE Kamrean Johnson; portal OL (Ethan Calloway, John Ohnegian, Ryan Berger) plus Clinton Richard / George Steih

Defense

Gabe Kirschke / Zach Lohavichan / Dallas Afalava / Langston Hardy; Frank Cusano / Aiden Hall; Deuce Blades II / Bernard Causey; Rushaun Tongue / Braylon Johnson / Davaughn Patterson

Key offense

  1. 01
    Gio Lopez QB
    Portal
    • UNC → Wake (South Alabama before UNC)
    • 2025 (regular season) UNC: 170/261 (65.1%), 1,747 yds, 10 TD, 5 INT plus 86 carries, 133 yds, 3 rushing TD /ESPN)
    • 2024 South Alabama was stronger (2,559 pass yds, 18 TD
    • 465 rush yds, 7 TD)
  2. 02
    Carlos Hernandez WR/PR
    Returning
    • 2025 (regular season) 40 receptions, 611 yds, 3 TD, 1 carries, 54 yds, 1 rushing TD, 253 punt-return yds and 1 TD
    • Wake bio notes 100 receiving + 51 rushing vs UNC and 197 receiving vs Delaware
  3. 03
    Ty Clark III RB
    Returning
    • Wake bio: 326 rush yds, 3 TD plus 17 receptions, 209 yds, 1 TD in 2025 (incl. bowl)
    • Duke’s Mayo Bowl breakout 91 rush yds + 3 receptions, 73 yds, 1 TD

Key defense

  1. 01
    Langston Hardy RUSH
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 65 tackles, 7.0 sacks
    • 17.0 TFL / 9 QBH
  2. 02
    Davaughn Patterson NB
    Returning
    • ESPN shows 80 tackles in 2025 (incl. bowl)
  3. 03
    Frank Cusano LB
    Returning
    • 45 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 PBU in 12 games
    • listed WLB1