Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1290311
36 SEPT. 26, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED ments for those two generated three receptions of at least 30 yards and two more that gained at least 20. Former four-star recruit Dona- von Greene slid into Surratt's role and caught three passes for 76 yards against Clemson in his first career start. Redshirt freshman Taylor Morin and redshirt junior Jaquarii Robertson took over Hinton's slot duties and combined to catch 13 passes for 185 yards. Right away, there's some clarity Clawson had to like. A passing of- fense that ranked in the nation's top 20 in receptions of 30-plus and 40-plus yards last year appears to still have some potency despite losing all of its important members. "When the year is all done, that's going to be a strong group," Clawson said. Wake Forest's running backs, though, averaged 2.95 yards per rush. Hartman and two backup quarter- backs were sacked a combined six times. There are no more encounters with defensive fronts loaded with fu- ture NFL players, but blocking chal- lenges against Notre Dame's deep and athletic front will tank any ability to score enough points to threaten the Irish. It's less clear what to make of allow- ing 37 points to Clemson, but if noth- ing else, Wake Forest knows it still has one game-wrecker. It may be a little lucky to have kept him. "It has been a big deal Boogie Basham has stayed and not opted out, considering he has a top-three- round draft grade right now," Quinlan said. "He's very loyal to the staff and wanted to play." Basham, a fifth-year senior who was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2019, had a sack and a batted pass against Clemson. His name populated preseason All-America teams after he produced 18 tackles for loss and 11 sacks last season. Most of the de- fense around him returned this year, save for both starting cornerbacks and linebacker Justin Strnad, a fifth-round draft pick. All but two defensive starters against Clemson were upperclassmen. The infrastructure is in place to im- prove upon last year's No. 80 ranking in yards allowed per play. However, the two corners were a meaningful loss. Third-team all-con- ference pick Essang Bassey won the nickelback job for the Denver Broncos as an undrafted rookie. Clemson quarterback Trevor Law- rence shredded the remnants of Wake Forest's secondary, with 351 passing yards on just 28 attempts. The missed assignments Clawson referenced were commonly found on the back end and due in part to six cornerbacks unavail- able with an injury or in contact-trac- ing quarantine. Junior safety Nasir Greer, an honorable mention all-con- ference player a year ago, had to move to corner in an emergency. The passing yardage numbers are ugly, but reserving final judgment on the secondary's capability would be fair after it was hodge-podged to- gether in a form it will not take when at or near full-strength. Wake Forest had the game against North Carolina State to get healthy or grow up fast before the challenges Notre Dame will present its defense. "We had a lot of players going for the first time, and one at a new posi- tion," Clawson said. "The bottom line is that we just didn't get it done. If you don't line up correctly and communi- cate against Clemson, then good luck." Surratt and redshirt freshman run- ning back Kendrell Flowers are Wake Forest's two players who opted out of the season. The Deacs have not been revealing COVID-19 test numbers within the football team, but Clawson said there were some virus-related ab- sences in the season opener. ✦ GAME PREVIEW: WAKE FOREST Early round NFL Draft prospect Carlos "Boogie" Basham had 11 sacks last season, which ranked second in the ACC. PHOTO BY PAUL RUTHERFORD/COURTESY WAKE FOREST ATHLETICS 2020 WAKE FOREST SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 12 Clemson L, 37-13 Sept. 19 at NC State L, 45-42 Sept. 26 Notre Dame (ABC) 12 p.m. Oct. 9 Campbell (ACCN) 8 p.m. Oct. 17 Virginia TBA Oct. 24 Virginia Tech TBA Oct. 31 at Syracuse TBA Nov. 14 at North Carolina TBA Nov. 21 at Duke TBA Nov. 28 Miami (Fla.) TBA Dec. 5 at Louisville TBA 2020 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 12 Duke W, 27-13 Sept. 19 South Florida W, 52-0 Sept. 26 at Wake Forest (ABC) 12 p.m. Oct. 10 Florida State (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 Louisville (NBC) 2:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at Pittsburgh TBA Oct. 31 at Georgia Tech TBA Nov. 7 Clemson (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Boston College TBA Nov. 27 at North Carolina TBA Dec. 5 Syracuse (NBC) TBA