en-us SportSpyder - The Latest Wake Forest Demon Deacons Football News https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/news The Deacs have their first addition of the offseason in VT transfer Antonio Dorn. For their first portal acquisition of the offseason, the Deacs are going big, filling the obvious hole at center that they had this season. Dorn is a 7-0, 230 pound center from Hamburg, Germany who averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds […] Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:02:18 GMT Adam Bridgers https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56215686 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56215686 false false The secondary position at Wake Forest is like the entire Demon Deacon team in a microcosm. It may be like a lot of teams in the current college football environment. Get . Add some guys from the portal who you expect and need immediate impact. And use Spring camp to develop some younger players for depth, and you have yourself a position room. Add in some critical guys working their way back from injuries, and you have a Wake Forest position room. Safety in Numbers at Wake Forest Safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Freddie Banks said this week that, more than halfway through Spring camp, the progress has been very strong. And his players need every day left to get better. “We have a long way to go until we have to play a game, so that’s kind of on our mind,” Banks said. “But we’re getting better every single day.” The safety position was a bright spot for the Deacs in 2025. The group, led by sixth-year senior Nick Anderson, had a dramatic turnaround from the year before. But a new year comes with new expectations and new ways to get there. Banks said last year is in the rear-view mirror. “You’ve got to start over. You’ve got to start over with the fundamentals, technique, and our communication. You’ve got to start over,” he said. “Last year was last year.” What Progress Looks Like Banks said the position group is . That seems to be a theme that is being repeated throughout the coaching staff, from head coach Jake Dickert on down. Versatility in the secondary is key. That gets us immediately to Myles Turpin. He is having a good Spring camp. But Banks says his ability to play different positions is making a big impact. “I don’t know what we’d do without him,” Banks said. “He’s playing nickel, he’s playing free [safety], he’s playing strong [safety]. One of the smartest dudes I’ve ever coached.” Banks added, “He’s going to play reps for us at all three positions.” Time Well Spent More is going to be expected of Braylon Johnson as well. He will be in his second season at Wake Forest after two years at Virginia Tech. He had 44 tackles last year while seeing playing time in all 13 Wake Forest games. “We’ll want him to take a big step in his man coverage,” Banks said of Johnson. As he did with Turpin, Banks referred to Johnson’s ability to pick things up quickly. “He’s super smart. So whatever we tell him, he’s applied it.” Taking a Leadership Role Johnson said one of the roles he is looking to take on as well is that of off-the-field leader. He said the coaches always have more than plenty to say. So he tends to check in with his teammates about how they are doing outside of the football facility. “For me, it’s like how are you doing outside of this? How’s your girlfriend? How’s your family? You know, a lot of guys are away from home. So, what is that you need help with outside of school?” Johnson said in terms of taking on the role of leader, he prefers to focus on the mental aspect of things. While going into his fourth year of college football, Johnson will be a grad student already. With most of his grad school classes being online, he said it gives him the time to check in on his teammates. He also has the time to spend a moment, when asked, about what might have been. He has no regrets about his two years at VA Tech. But he said he sees a difference at Wake Forest. “When I got here last Fall, I didn’t really understand it. But now I do. The culture’s different. It’s not the same at Wake Forest. It’s different. Coach Dickert always talks about it,” Johnson said. “I wish I were here every day to see it.” The Return of Davaughn The last week-and-a-half of Spring camp is going to see something else change with the safeties. That would be the return of The senior has been working his way back from off-season surgery. About a week ago, he started taking part in the practices that were in helmets/jerseys/shorts. Now he is starting to take on some contact drills. “With me being out, a lot of the other guys, they had to step up. They had to be put in this position where the rest of the team is depending on them,” Patterson said this week. His assessment from watching from the sidelines is that some of the younger players have made big strides by being forced into action. “This time and space of me being away has given them room to grow.” Both Dickert and defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton have talked this Spring about veteran players who have been injured (like Patterson and like linebacker Aiden Hall), helping coach up some of the other players at their positions. “That’s one of the main things we take pride in here at Wake, is, especially on the defense, just bonding with our guys and getting to know them,” Patterson said. “That definitely helps us when it’s time to go out on the field or in a meeting room when it’s time to push them.” Hazelton said last week that he has even let Hall and Patterson call some of the defensive plays during camp. “It was definitely fun for me. The play I called worked,... Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:05:12 GMT Tony Siracusa, CFB Managing Editor https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56208410 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56208410 false false Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne was a blur during his career in Winston-Salem and one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. At 5'... Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:46:31 GMT ACC Digital Network https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56191140 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56191140 false false As the Wake Forest offense continues to move puzzle pieces around to find the right picture, they have two weeks left in to move the installation process along. Even with new players blending in at receiver, offensive line, and, of course, quarterback, the process of putting the big picture together is moving along better than some might have expected. Wake Forest Installing Puzzle Pieces Quarterback coach Dan Enos said yesterday, “I would say with the install, we are way further ahead [r]. That’s really not a knock on the two guys who were here last year [quarterbacks Deshawn Purdie and Robby Ashford].” Enos said last year’s process was impacted by the fact that everyone was still finding their way. “We were all new last year. So you had coaches who were learning. All the players were learning.” Even with the presumed starting quarterback, , being new to Wake Forest, he is not new to the offense. He played under Wake’s offensive coordinator Rob Ezell when the two were at South Alabama in 2024. “Even though he’s been in the offense, you’re constantly adding and subtracting and multiplying. So there’s been some things that he has not been very familiar with that we’re doing that’s been great,” Enos said. He added that having Steele Pizzella back for a second year has helped the entire quarterback position with installing the offense. “You have two guys that are very comfortable within the system. They are past basic math. They’re past Algebra I. They’re into the Algebra II/Calculus range.” Enos gave Lopez credit for bringing “calming poise” to the huddle. “He has a veteran poise to him. He’s played a lot of football and a lot of snaps.” Finding A Way The Offensive Line Pieces Part of putting the puzzle pieces together is on the offensive line. The build around returning veterans like George Steih, means melding in some talent from the transfer portal. Head coach Jake Dickert brought in five offensive linemen from the portal and signed one freshman lineman from the recruiting class. Will Way is going to be a redshirt junior in the upcoming season after transferring from Weber State. He played in 11 games last season for the Wildcats, his third season at Weber State. Adjusting to a New Line The Wildcats beat McNeese State, Butler, Portland State, and Northern Arizona. They got beaten badly in their marquee FBS-level games against James Madison and Arizona early in the season. Way said some of the adjustment in coming to Wake in getting up to the speed of having bigger games each week. “My biggest thing that I wanted to work on was speed. Obviously, it’s a different level moving up from FCS to Power Four,” he said on Tuesday. He said that adjustment determined his off-season workouts. “I just had a bigger intent. I knew I would be on a bigger stage, and I knew I would have a bigger role.” He said there was also the adjustment to the mental approach. “Big fish, little pond type of deal [at Weber State] and then moving here,” he said. Way said offensive line coach Jared Kaster has been interchanging a lot of players on the line for depth purposes. Way said it is easier to get used to the same players on both sides of you every snap. But there is more work that goes into developing an entire unit. “It’s nice to get repetitions with everybody, so that I am not just used to one person.” Adjusting to a New World There was also the day-to-day change. The things you get at a Wake Forest-level school are far different from those at Weber State. “We have all this stuff that I was introduced to that I didn’t have access to before,” he said. “So, at first when I walked in, my eyes were probably like gumball-size, like a kid in a candy store.” He said he took pictures of all the workout facilities to send back to his mom and dad in Tucson, AZ. Way is a particular fan of the sleep pods. “I get in there and can take a good nap before some of my classes.” The bigger adjustment is life in Arizona and then Utah to life in Winston-Salem. He said the North Carolina humidity is new for him. But when NC got a dousing of snow, he laughed at the reactions from his new neighbors, friends, and teammates. Having played in Ogden, Utah, he was used to snow. “I went to Walmart just to get some paper towels for my apartment. And the shelves are bare, and I was like, ‘What are we doing?’ Last week, defensive back transfer Deuce Blades, having grown up in South Florida, said it was the first time he had seen snow, and his car was stuck in the parking lot for three days. Way brought his Utah preparedness with him. “I have a GMC [truck] so I was picking up guys, giving them rides.” Main Image: Tony Siracusa Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:21:13 GMT Tony Siracusa, CFB Managing Editor https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56183070 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56183070 false false Wake Forest guard Myles Colvin to enter the transfer portal Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:38:29 GMT Cameron Lemons Debro https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56178813 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56178813 false false SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/Oqg3iEThe ACC Digital Network (theACCDN) is a project of Raycom Sports, a long-time television producer and partner of the Atlantic ... Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:47:19 GMT ACC Digital Network https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56173770 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56173770 false false And then there was one. The Deacs have their 7th loss of the offseason, with junior Forward Myles Colvin entering the portal. Colvin, a junior who transferred to Wake after 2 years at Purdue, was probably the best addition in the portal for the Deacs in the 2025 offseason. The 6-5 forward finished the season […] Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:28:45 GMT Adam Bridgers https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56171686 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56171686 false false A Wake Forester in the truest sense, Dr. Gene Hooks attended the college in its original home of Wake Forest, N.C. He gained All-America honors as a third ba... Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:37:42 GMT Stephen Czarda https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56171832 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56171832 false false Famous Gambler Says Wrong Team is Favored and Then the Line Moves & Profits Roll in This last week a Legend some have heard of Jon Price went live on the air across America & Canada on his weekly radio segment and called out the Vegas oddsmakers claiming that the wrong team was favored in a College Football game on Saturday between Wake Forest and Virginia. Jon’s radio segment aired on over 175 sports radio stations and thousands of sports bettors turned a serious profit thanks to Jon’s advice. Those who were contrarian lost. Those who listened profited. Here’s the story. Jon Price and his team handicap their own games and come up with their own odds lines and then compare them to that of the Vegas oddsmakers to find any distinct value in potential plays. In mathematical speak this is called Delta. That’s exactly what Jon saw when the line for the game opened at Wake Forest +2.5 against the Virginia Cavaliers. Not only did Jon think the 2.5 point line was off, but he thought that Wake Forest should clearly be the favored team in the matchup. When he took to the airwaves on Tuesday, Jon called his shot and proclaimed that this will be his single biggest wager not only of this year, but in the last 5 years. He called it, “The Vegas Mistake.” As he explains on his radio show, the Vegas oddsmakers rarely miss this badly on a line, and he instructed all of his listeners to take advantage. As the week played out, it was clear that Jon Price knew something the oddsmakers didn’t. The line was still at 2.5 points when Jon made his call on Tuesday that the oddsmakers had messed up, and that’s when things started to develop… The line slowly slipped throughout the week, and by kickoff on Saturday the Wake Forest Demon Deacons had flipped the line and were now favored by 1.5 points, and even 2 points at some other books. Jon had already proved his point that the wrong team was favored and that he was one step ahead of Vegas the whole time, but he wasn’t done… He placed his largest wager in years on both the Demon Deacons with the points and on the moneyline for them to win outright. When Saturday came, the game played out as if Jon wrote the script for it. Wake Forest jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter, and after a few scores and then Virginia fought to make things close, Wake Forest then pulled away in the second half and poured gasoline on the fire, finishing by a score of 40-23 in a convincing win. Arguably one of the greatest and most famous sports bettors and handicappers over the last 20 years, Jon Price is no stranger to the big stage of sports. Jon has gained national acclaim on several occasions for some of his high profile wagers, but none bigger this year than the play he just won last week. For those that aren’t familiar with the sports betting elite, Jon Price from Sports Information Traders has established himself over the last 20 years as being arguably the best sports bettor and handicapper in the industry. He’s been featured a wide variety of national publications from Forbes Magazine to Yahoo Finance and The Washington Post. Jon’s fame isn’t just exclusive to print publications, he’s featured on nationally syndicated radio shows throughout the country during football season, including ESPN and CBS Radio. Not only did Jon cash in big on his Vegas Mistake play, but also did his clients as well as the thousands of listeners to his radio program. Just another day at the office for Jon and his team. 2020 has already been his most profitable sports betting year to date and both the College and NFL seasons aren’t even halfway through yet. You can read more about Jon and hear one of his radio segments where he predicts his Vegas Mistake on his company’s webpage at SportsInformationTraders.com. Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:26:08 GMT Last Word Staff https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56121771 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56121771 false false Anyone closely following the Wake Forest Spring camp this year can clearly see significant differences compared to last year. The defense has some veteran leadership voids, as some key players are out with injuries. The offense is working to blend new pieces together. Some of it is working well. Some of it needs much more work. Wake Forest Spring Camp Draws Some Comparisons The Demon Deacons spent some of Thursday’s practice in actual scrimmage mode. on how they looked at the halfway point of camp will come after watching the films. But first impressions were pretty clear. There are some elements where the Deacs are ahead of the same time frame as last season. The Biggest Difference The most obvious upgrade from year to year is at quarterback. That’s not to say Gio Lopez is going to top anyone’s list of top transfer portal quarterbacks for the 2026 season. But at the times of self-reflection, it is a step up from the 2025 Spring camp. There were days when Robby Ashford was the best in the room, and that was sometimes by default. There were times when it was Deshaun Purdie. And there were more times when it was neither. Fast forward to today, and Lopez is “the guy.” He has some hits and some misses. But he is QB1. And Steele Pizzella, a guy who head coach Jake Dickert says is one of the smartest players he has ever worked with, is having a solid camp at QB2. The Film Always Tells the Story After the scrimmage on Thursday, Dickert met with the media. “I think I get caught in the same trap as some of the other coaches comparing where we are now to where we finished last year,” Dickert said. “I’ve just got to remind myself. Last year, after scrimmage one, it was raining. I watched it this morning. We couldn’t move the ball. We couldn’t throw a vertical pass. And we busted everywhere on defense.” Yes, you read that correctly. Dickert spent Thursday morning going back and looking at the film of last year’s first scrimmage in order to help get some context for Thursday’s work. “You know, just like remind ourselves that building a team takes time. And we can’t keep comparing to last year and where this team is at. But I think we’re in a good place.” Just going through the eyeball test of the morning, Dickert said, “I think we’re so much farther along. I’ll give our coaches credit in that.” He said the players are driving the improved work, and he is happy with the off-season talent acquisitions. “Even in recruiting, we’re so much farther along. We’re in a whole different place. And I’ve said this many times before. Wake Forest can be a football program.” That’s not to say there is not significant work to do in the remaining three weeks of camp. ”We’ve got to firm up the pocket [offensive line pass protection]. That’s our number one thing on offense. And we’ve got to get better at it.” Ezell Gives His Take On His Offense Offensive coordinator Rob Ezell met with the media for the first time this Spring. He was Lopez’s offensive coordinator at South Alabama in 2024. So even though Lopez may be new to Wake Forest, he is not new to Ezell’s schemes. “he’s done a really good job of elevating the players around him and bringing the confidence into them,” Ezell said after the scrimmage. Beyond the headlines that come with having a new quarterback, Ezell said he has been pleased with the development at the wide receiver position. Carlos Hernandez was the returning receiver with the most game experience. But others have made it a competition at the position. Tyler Chase and Jack Foley have had big moments throughout the first three weeks of camp. And even with being slight of build, has made a real claim to be the every down slot receiver, all 5’-8”, 170 pounds of him. “Obviously, at wide receiver, you’re competing against every day,” Ezell said. “But you’re also competing against one another. It’s been awesome to see the competition in that room.” He added that there have been many moments when the players get out of their competitive silos and have been working to lift each other up in order to build depth in the position room. “I like the direction that room is headed in.” Dickert continues to focus on building the team’s identity, saying it must change from year to year and season to season. The Deacs ran a 90-play scrimmage that lasted more than two hours. There will be a couple more practices like this in addition to the Fan Fest on Saturday, April 15 th. Main Image: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:10:57 GMT Tony Siracusa, CFB Managing Editor https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56119905 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56119905 false false SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/Oqg3iEThe ACC Digital Network (theACCDN) is a project of Raycom Sports, a long-time television producer and partner of the Atlantic ... Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:18:42 GMT ACC Digital Network https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56114995 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56114995 false false The 2025 Spring camp version of Wake Forest football was a team that was being led every day by its defense. There were plenty of days when there was no quarterback play that would lead anyone to believe this was going to be an explosive offense. And that is , with a defense that seldom got beaten in a big way. Fast forward to the 2026 Spring camp. Head coach Jake Dickert is in search of who will be the leaders who will create that same defense this season. Wake Forest Looking For New Leaders on Defense The first and most obvious point of this year’s Spring camp is that the defense is missing some guys who are going to be counted on to play vital roles this season. Linebacker Aidan Hall, defensive lineman Langston Hardy, and defensive back Davaughn Patterson are rehabbing from injuries. According to defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton, that means others are getting training camp snaps in hopes of during the season. “It’s good to see them learning, and messing up, and figuring out what to do.” Hazleton met with the media for the first time this Spring and said he is embracing the learning curve some of the newer players are going through. “Teaching those fundamentals right now is more important.” He said that opens the door for the defense to evolve when they get the injured starters back. Acceptable Mistakes In the meantime, he said guys like Hall and Patterson are adding to the equation, almost like extra coaches tutoring the younger and newer players. Hazelton said he has even engaged them in helping call plays during some of the scrimmage time. “They’ve got a good hit rate right now. I make fun of it, but they do a good job.” Dickert, though, expressed some concern last week that the defense was giving up some of those explosive plays that it did not surrender last season. “To really understand your role, whoever you are, whether you’re a safety or a backer or you got something where you take a corner, you have to get burned and scarred by that,” Hazleton said. “You have to give up a big play to truly learn, ‘oh, that’s why we do it.’” He called those moments teaching tools and said he is pleased with the progress of the unit. The Dallas Afalava Standup Show Dickert and Hazelton spoke to the media before any of the players on Tuesday. That meant defensive lineman Dallas Afalava had to wait his turn. And he was convinced it was going to make him late for class. For the record, it was EDU 295 (teaching elementary social studies), with Dr. Casey Holmes. So yes, Dr. Holmes, Afalava really was with the media. And as he put it with a strong laugh, “I had two old white dudes in front of me.” Afalava said he was tired of the off-season. “When football season started again, you’re running, you’re having fun, you’re playing with your guys. You get to see the team mesh and really create chemistry and become one. So that’s the thing I love to see.” Even with last year’s success and the return of several key components from last year’s team, Afalava said there is a page to be turned. “We’ve got to create a new identity because it can’t be the same as the old one,” he said. “I think everybody has just started to come along in their own way, getting their roles. I’m trying to find my role because it’s not the same as last year. Everything changes.” Becoming a Leader The biggest change for Afalava, he said, is that as a senior, he puts upon himself to be a leader on the defense. “Seeing what the team needs, from an energy standpoint and leadership standpoint in the locker room. Guys need guidance. I’m a senior now, and it’s definitely a bigger role. And I’m highly aware that coaches depend on you a little more.” Dickert said earlier in the week that he is looking for players to step up and step out as more vocal leaders at various positions. Afalava said Zach Lohavichan is one of them for the defensive line. “He’s been here for like eight years; or 22 years,” Afalava said with a smirk. He said he also sees his new role as being one of the more vocal guys. “If you’re juiceless, you’re useless,” he said, explaining how he helps pull teammates through the workouts when they are feeling tired and beat up. Used to the Process One of the new players that Dickert got in is defensive back , or “Deuce” as he goes by. He is a transfer from Florida International University. Blades was Honorable Mention All-CUSA in 2025 and is at Wake as a Grad Student. If the last name sounds familiar, there is a good reason. The Blades’ name reaches far into college football lore. His father, Brian, was a college football legend at the University of Miami, playing on two national championship teams with the Hurricanes. Deuce’s uncles are Benny Blades (1987 Miami national championship team) and Al Blades, who was also a star for the Hurricanes. The Personal Path The younger Blades said it was not always a given that he would play football. “Actually, my dad didn’t want me to play football,” Deuce told the media on Tuesday. He said his dad wa... Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:36:38 GMT Tony Siracusa, CFB Managing Editor https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56104372 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56104372 false false Baer Hunter, a former star offensive lineman at Appalachian State and early addition to Ryan Silverfield's Arkansas staff, lands new role. Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:47:35 GMT John Brice https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56101422 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56101422 true false Ole Miss fans have grown accustomed to hearing the name . Despite only being a Rebel for one season, Alexander became known for making huge catches in key moments during the 2025 season. And that was while he was playing a slightly lesser role on a roster that had a loaded receiving corps. Now, he’s entering his second season in Oxford. With that, he’s expected to have a much larger role in the passing game. And based on the early days of spring practice for the Rebels, it’s a role he seems to be enjoying. No. 1 — Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) So, where did Alexander come from, and what can Ole Miss fans expect to see from him in his new role in 2026? Deuce Alexander: Ole Miss’s WR1 in 2026? Early Career Prior to Ole Miss Despite being the son of a former NFL receiver, Alexander doesn’t give much away physically. He stands at a modest 6’0, and only weighs roughly 180 pounds. That doesn’t scream elite Division I wide receiver. However, despite being undersized, he used his catch radius and track star speed to become a three-star recruit out of high school. Following a high school career that saw him catch 105 passes for 1,435 yards at Douglas County High School in Georgia, he committed to Wake Forest, where he spent two seasons. As a true freshman in 2023, he saw action in only two games, catching two passes for 30 yards and a touchdown. The following season, as a redshirt freshman, he played in all 12 games for the Demon Deacons. That season, he brought in 36 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns. Following the 2024 season, he then entered the transfer portal, committing to Ole Miss to play for Lane Kiffin. Alexander’s First Season as a Rebel Coming to Ole Miss, there’s a good chance Alexander knew he may play a smaller role in what was a solid Ole Miss receiving corps. But in an up-tempo offense led by Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr, he still had plenty of opportunities to make plays. And he made the most of them. In 2025, he caught 44 passes for 684 yards and two touchdowns. Following the season, despite Kiffin and Weis Jr both leaving for LSU, Alexander decided to stay in Oxford. And with winning his , it appears that he’ll be entering the season with a Heisman candidate throwing him passes. Furthermore, the Rebels’ new offensive coordinator, , runs a similar scheme to what Weis Jr runs. So while the terminology may change, the system won’t appear that much different. This should help the transition for Alexander and the rest of the offense, in terms of preparing for 2026. Expectations for Alexander in 2026? Ole Miss is losing their top three receivers from last year’s squad. This means a lot of new faces and a lot of inexperienced guys who haven’t seen much playing time. For Alexander, this is going to leave plenty of room for him to take the reins as the primary target for Chambliss this season. In terms of receivers, is another guy who is entering his second year in Oxford. And while he may have bigger size, he only appeared in three games last season as a freshman, meaning Alexander has more of a connection with Chambliss. Ole Miss also has guys like transferring from Syracuse and transferring from Auburn, among a few other transfers. But the connection and trust that has already been built with Alexander and Chambliss likely gives him the edge as we head towards next season. Another key for Alexander is his speed. Not only is he a deep threat in the passing game, but he can also be used in the rushing game, too, in terms of sweeps that can get run out of the backfield. Last year, he carried the ball 19 times for 122 yards. In a similar offense, he’s likely going to see plenty of carries once again. It won’t be an every possession occurrence, but it is a threat if they need to keep defenses off balance. Area of Improvement to Take the Next Step While Alexander has the chance to become one of the most electric players in the sport because of his athleticism and speed, there is one area that needs to improve. That is, if he wants to take the next step towards becoming the primary target for the Rebels. Put simply, that area of improvement is his hands. More importantly, making the routine catches. While he never seems to struggle with the highlight reel-type grabs, he did struggle at times last season with the routine, intermediate routes, and making the easy catches. As the lead guy, there can’t be questions about making the easy plays. Those have to be automatic. If Alexander can work on becoming more consistent with his speed, he has a real chance to become a major problem for defenses in 2026. Main Image: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:06:40 GMT Noah Dunlap https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56100990 https://sportspyder.com/cf/wake-forest-demon-deacons-football/articles/56100990 false false