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It's hard to say that after the 0-2 start the Wake Forest defense was much-maligned. Let's just say it was slightly maligned, but it came to life on Friday night. Creating four turnovers and getting an interception return for a touch-down from safety Zion Keith were big. Keith returned it 45 yards for the Deacons' second pick-six of the season. "I was just thinking don't drop this ball," Keith said about the interception that came as quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams tried to throw across the middle after scrambling to his right. Keith said he was impressed with his teammates on defense. "Coach (Lyle) Hemphill really emphasizes getting to the ball and creating those turnovers," Keith said. "We went out and were aggressive." - Winston Salem Journal

(DS#999 FS) rJr/2024

FS Zion Keith, Wake Forest
News Source: Winston Salem Journal
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09/16/20 - Karon Prunty, rSr/2026, Wake Forest, 6-1, 192 (DS#78 CB) + More +

KU head coach Les Miles immediately after the loss, though, spoke optimistically when asked to assess the defense. "We have some really good kids and good players in that segment of our team," Miles said. "Karon Prunty (four tackles and a pass breakup) was a true freshman starter (at cornerback) in that game and played really lights out," Miles gave as an example. "We're excited about some of the things that are going on on that side of the ball." Junior inside linebacker Dru Prox led KU's defense with 11 total tackles, tying his career high. Another inside linebacker, senior Denzel Feaster, made a career best seven tackles. Sophomore safety Kenny Logan Jr. also made a personal best seven tackles. Yet KU's defense rarely disrupted Coastal's offensive approach. The Jayhawks only made two tackles for loss and had zero sacks. - Topeka Capital Journal

(DS#78 CB) rSr/2026

CB Karon Prunty, Wake Forest
News Source: Topeka Capital Journal
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09/12/20 - Karon Prunty, rSr/2026, Wake Forest, 6-1, 192 (DS#78 CB) + More +

It didn't take long for Robert Jackson to realize that KU freshman cornerback Karon Prunty had a bright future. Jackson was only Prunty's head coach for one season at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia. Jackson took over the program in the offseason, and only needed to see Prunty in a few drills to fully understand his potential. "I knew right away that he was special," Jackson told the Journal-World in a phone interview. "We knew we had a special player. I was just surprised his recruiting wasn't through the roof at that time." Jackson's prophecy proved to be true.

Prunty was listed as a starting cornerback in KU's original depth chart, which was released on Monday ahead of Saturday's season opener against Coastal Carolina. In roughly 12 months, Prunty went from an under-recruited prospect originally committed to Liberty to a true freshman starter for a Power Five program. "I'm not sure how good he thought he could be," Jackson said. "He played both sides of the ball. He ran punts and kickoffs back for touchdowns. He was one of our leading receivers. But I told him if he's going to make money that it's going to be at that defensive back position." - Lawrence Journal World

(DS#78 CB) rSr/2026

CB Karon Prunty, Wake Forest
News Source: Lawrence Journal World
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09/11/20 - Carlos Basham Jr., rSr/2021, Wake Forest, 6-3, 274 (DS#4 DE) + More +

Wake Forest's defense boasts one of the best defenders in the ACC with Basham, a redshirt senior defensive end who had 11 sacks and 18 tackles for loss last season. It's been a three-year progression for Basham, from Duke Ejiofor's backup in 2017 to full-time starter in 2018. That season was marked by inconsistency, perhaps because he thought production would come easier than it did, defensive line coach Dave Cohen said. Now, Basham is the complete package. He's melded his athleticism and motor with pass-rush techniques designed to wreak havoc, and the latest step in his development was being named a captain last weeek. "What I see in him is great focus and great energy and great finish in plays, with a lot of good birthright talent," Cohen said. "I have no concern as long as he's going as hard as he is and as focused as he is." - Winston Salem Journal

(DS#4 DE) rSr/2021

DE Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest
News Source: Winston Salem Journal
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09/08/20 - Carlos Basham Jr., rSr/2021, Wake Forest, 6-3, 274 (DS#4 DE) + More +

2021 SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST: Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest,...Basham comes into the season with 18 consecutive games with a tackle for loss, the longest streak in the country. He is the only player in the country to have a streak longer than 12 games. Last season, he recorded 11.0 sacks, the second-most ever in a season by a Deacon and the most since 1992. Basham played a key role in in the Demon Deacons clinching the Big 4 Championship, tallying 5.5 sacks over those three games. - Wake Forest Football

(DS#4 DE) rSr/2021

DE Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest
News Source: Wake Forest Football
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09/07/20 - JaSir Taylor, rSr/2022, Wake Forest, 5-11, 188 (DS#64 CB) + More +

Essang Bassey and Amari Henderson started a combined 80 games in their Wake Forest careers - nearly all of them coming with Taylor playing as the nickel and filling in when either was injured. Now Taylor becomes the leader of the Bermuda Boyz. Taylor had the first two interceptions of his career in the last two regular-season games last season. He'll be the Deacons' No. 1 cornerback and will start opposite a cornerback who doesn't have a career start - no matter if that's Kenneth Dicks III, Tyriq Hardimon, Caelen Carson or another candidate. - Winston Salem Journal

(DS#64 CB) rSr/2022

CB JaSir Taylor, Wake Forest
News Source: Winston Salem Journal
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09/04/20 - Jamie Newman, rSr/2021, Wake Forest, 6-3, 234 (DS#10 QB) + More +

Georgia's first opt out of the 2020 college football season couldn't be any bigger. Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman won't play for the Bulldogs after all, someone who is familiar with the situation confirmed to the Athens Banner-Herald. Yahoo Sports was first to report Newman's decision and Newman himself soon confirmed the news himself. Newman cited "uncertainties of this year amid a global pandemic," and said he will start training for the 2021 NFL draft where he's a possible first-round draft pick. "While we will miss him being part of our program, I fully support Jamie's decision and we will continue to regard him as a Georgia Bulldog," said UGA coach Kirby Smart via a statement. "Certainly we wish him nothing but the best in his quest for an NFL career and he knows he will always have a home at UGA."

Newman's high school coach Anthony Timmons was unaware Newman decided to opt out before the announcement. "Kind of surprising, but you know what LSU is losing some good players and there's a couple of players from different colleges opting out," said Timmons, who coached Newman at Graham High School in North Carolina. "I'm not quite sure what to fully make of it." The departure leaves Georgia with Southern Cal transfer JT Daniels, coming off a knee injury, as the leading candidate to start. The Bulldogs' other quarterbacks are redshirt frshman D'Wan Mathis, true freshman Carson Beck and redshirt junior Stetson Bennett. - Athens Daily Banner

(DS#10 QB) rSr/2021

QB Jamie Newman, Wake Forest
News Source: Athens Daily Banner
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09/02/20 - Jamie Newman, rSr/2021, Wake Forest, 6-3, 234 (DS#10 QB) + More +

Georgia graduate transfer quarterback Jamie Newman has opted out of the 2020 season, according to a person familiar with the situation. Newman transferred to Georgia after a career at Wake Forest and was expected to be the Bulldogs starting quarterback this season. Georgia is set to open the season Sept. 26 at Arkansas. Georgia has not commented on Newman’s decision. An announcement from the school could come as soon as today. - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

(DS#10 QB) rSr/2021

QB Jamie Newman, Wake Forest
News Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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09/01/20 - Nasir Greer, Sr/2022, Wake Forest, 6-1, 209 (DS#26 SS) + More +

It seems like Wake Forest could be without both of the key defenders it was missing in its last game and its largest offseason addition to start the football season. Nasir Greer and Rondell Bothroyd, both of whom were injured last season and underwent surgery, have both been limited in practices thus far - though to different extents. Greer, according to defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill, "looks unbelievable" but isn't participating in team segments yet. Assistant head coach for defense Dave Cohen, who coaches the defensive line, said Bothroyd is "probably a few weeks out yet." The Deacons open the season Sept. 12 against Clemson, which has beaten them by a combined 115-6 in the last two years.

Greer, an honorable mention All-ACC pick last year, seems to be the most likely to play against the Tigers, who open the season ranked No. 1 for the second straight time. Hemphill said the staff is playing it cautious with the junior safety who had 65 tackles and three forced fumbles last season. "It's probably too far away right now," Hemphill said of the opener and whether Greer would play. "Two weeks is probably too far away to give you an honest answer on that...I just don't want to rush the kid. "If he's not 100% mentally ready, I don't think we should rush him." - Winston Salem Journal

(DS#26 SS) Sr/2022

SS Nasir Greer, Wake Forest
News Source: Winston Salem Journal
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08/28/20 - Jamie Newman, rSr/2021, Wake Forest, 6-3, 234 (DS#10 QB) + More +

On his first weekend on the job in January, UGA offensive coordinator Todd Monken helped seal the deal with the player who may be the Bulldogs quarterback of the future in 2021 Prince Avenue Christian five-star Brock Vandagriff. A few days after Memorial Day, the Bulldogs present and future became more interesting when JT Daniels announced he was transferring from Southern Cal to play for Georgia and Monken. After getting a waiver from the NCAA this summer, Daniels offers Monken a player with Power Five conference starting experience to push Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman for the starting job.

Newman brings a dual-threat skillset after rushing for 574 yards last season and throwing for 2,868 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Daniels is a former five-star who was rated the nation's No. 2 pro-style quarterback in 2018 out of Santa Ana, Calif., behind Trevor Lawrence. "The one thing I would say about Jamie is he is a better thrower, everybody talked about his athleticism but he's a better thrower than people think," Monken said. "And I think JT is a better athlete. So obviously there's film of both of those guys, JT as a young player at USC throwing the football. And there's film of Jamie running Wake Forest's offense very efficient." - Athens Daily Banner

(DS#10 QB) rSr/2021

QB Jamie Newman, Wake Forest
News Source: Athens Daily Banner
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08/22/20 - Carlos Basham Jr., rSr/2021, Wake Forest, 6-3, 274 (DS#4 DE) + More +

Wake Forest's defense was already going into the season as the more-experienced and deeper unit - at least, on paper - compared to the Deacons' offense. It's a gap that widened this week with star receiver Sage Surratt's decision to opt out. The Deacons' defensive star and other projected first-round pick, Boogie Basham, said he's not thinking about opting out - spearheading a unit that doesn't lack confidence after about two weeks of practices. "I've had people reach out and ask me that question (about opting out)," Basham said Friday morning. "I kind of just shied away, as that's not what I'm thinking about right now. I'm thinking about the first game."

Wake Forest's defense features eight returning starters and seven of its top nine tacklers from a year ago. Coach Dave Clawson said last week that the secondary needs to be figured out, but the Deacons should be able to lean on a deep defensive line and linebacker corps. "Our front seven especially is very experienced," junior linebacker Ryan Smenda Jr. said. "I think once we really find that true rock in our defense, that true leader - once we start to feed off each other and start to play together, I think we're going to be a top-five defense, to be honest." - Winston Salem Journal

(DS#4 DE) rSr/2021

DE Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest
News Source: Winston Salem Journal
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08/19/20 - *Sage Surratt, rJr/2021, Wake Forest, 6-3, 209 (DS#24 WR) + More +

Surratt is the fourth key ACC player, the first to play offense, to opt out. The others have been Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley, Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau and Pittsburgh defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman. Surratt is the second star receiver nationally to opt out, along with Rashod Bateman of Minnesota. Surratt, one of the ACC's premier playmakers, is a 6-3, 215-pounder who had 66 catches for 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns in nine games last season. He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury at Virginia Tech and missed the final four games.

Surratt's breakout season featured a touchdown catch in each of the first six games, culminating with a three-touchdown performance against Louisville. After redshirting in 2017, Surratt had 41 catches for 581 yards and four touchdowns in 2018 - including a one-handed catch that sparked the Deacons' win at N.C. State in Jamie Newman's first start - and a touchdown in the Birmingham Bowl. Though his Deacons career was only two seasons (22 games), Surratt is tied for ninth in career receiving touchdowns (15). His 1,000-yard season a year ago was only the sixth in program history. - Winston Salem Journal

(DS#24 WR) rJr/2021

WR *Sage Surratt, Wake Forest
News Source: Winston Salem Journal
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08/06/20 - Jacob Roberts, rSr/2024, Wake Forest, 6-0, 228 (DS#33 ILB) + More +

2020 PHIL STEELE/DRAFTSCOUT PRESEASON ALL-MEAC FIRST TEAM: Jacob Roberts, North Carolina A&T, Soph.,...Pre Bowl: In the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Roberts ranks seventh in tackles for loss, 13th in sacks and 14th in tackles in 2019. Nationally, Roberts was 41st in the country in tackles for loss and 71st in sacks. His standout game came against Howard on Oct. 26 when he made 15 tackles (10 unassisted), 6.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. For his efforts, he was named FCS national freshman of the week by STATS and MEAC rookie of the week. Roberts earned second-team all-conference honors after the regular season. - North Carolina A&T Football

(DS#33 ILB) rSr/2024

ILB Jacob Roberts, Wake Forest
News Source: North Carolina A&T Football
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07/30/20 - Kobie Turner, rSr/2023, Wake Forest, 6-3, 293 (DS#27 DT) + More +

2020 PHIL STEELE/DRAFTSCOUT All-CAA FIRST TEAM: Kobie Turner, Richmond, Jr.,...Turner was named First Team Preseason All-America by HERO Sports this summer. He burst onto the scene last fall in his first full year as a starter, earning Third Team All-CAA honors. He led all CAA defensive lineman in tackles with 71 on the year, including a team-high 14.5 tackles for loss. He also added a career-high 7.0 sacks while starting all 12 games for the Spiders. - Richmond Football

(DS#27 DT) rSr/2023

DT Kobie Turner, Wake Forest
News Source: Richmond Football
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07/28/20 - Carlos Basham Jr., rSr/2021, Wake Forest, 6-3, 274 (DS#4 DE) + More +

2020 PRESEASON WALTER CAMP SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: DL Carlos Basham, Wake Forest,...After having a breakout season off the edge in 2019, Basham will look to solidify his place in the Wake Forest record book in his final season. He enters his senior season with 31 career tackles for loss and 15.5 career sacks, which ranks sixth in program history. Last season, the first team All-ACC honoree recorded 11.0 sacks, the second-most ever in a season by a Deacon and the most since 1992. - Wake Forest Football

(DS#4 DE) rSr/2021

DE Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest
News Source: Wake Forest Football
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