There is usually a level of excitement surrounding things that are new. So it was easy to anticipate the noise that came from the first day of Wake Forest Spring camp Tuesday. The vibe led to a message repeated by coach and players alike that to a degree, everyone is a freshman again, as Wake Forest opens Spring camp.
The New Era Begins
Wake Forest Opens Spring Camp.
The first practice of camp moved inside to the McCreary Field House. It had little to do with the 38-degree temperatures outside according to new head coach Jake Dickert. It was about the “Functionality of the quickness of transition,” Dickert told the media after practice. He called the first couple of days of camp an “install” process. Nearly half of the roster is new to Wake. It is an entirely new coaching staff. There is a lot of work to do when it comes to cohesion on the field. The team even had a walk-through practice Monday. Dickert wanted the players to have an idea of what the first day was going to look like.
There was a discernible uptick in the decibel level of practice as well. With the usual coaches yelling throughout the workouts, players audibly excited, and music pumped in throughout the two hours, it had Dickert’s stamp on it. “That’s how we practice,” he said. “There will be periods where it will be deafening loud in here when we get in red zone or we get into third down. I like to practice in a fashion that replicates games.” He said that includes how long they spend on any given drill. He is looking to keep up a constant movement and pace.
Blending New and Old
Linebacker Quincy Bryant said of the mix of veteran Deacs , transfers from around the country, and a bevy of new high school signees, “It feels like we’re all freshmen again.” He described a big energy difference as, “Guys flying around all day.”
Bryant said that with the biggest mix of transfer talent Wake Forest football has ever had and the new players, there is some give-and-take among them. As a redshirt senior, he said he knows he is being looked at as a leader, particularly by guys new to Wake Forest.
He said the Wake veterans are relying on the players who transferred from Washington State with the new coach as Dickert translators. The on-field verbiage from Dickert and his staff is different than what was used by Dave Clawson for the previous 11 years. “Those guys are huge helps,” Bryant said of the WAZZU transfers helping everyone acclimate to the new head coach.
Making the Transition
“I like to say we’re all new,” Dickert said when asking about melding in the transfers with the Wake Forest returnees and the new high school signees. He said his biggest message over the last two days leading up to the start of camp was, “If you are still in the mode of like, ‘What I did last year,’ or ‘Where I was last year,’ you are so far behind being here right now in this moment.” He added that it is about creating an identity, which he said must happen on the field.
Defensive back Nick Anderson said while there has to be a coming together of the old and the new, at the end of the day, the end result can only be one way. “Not having it old versus new. This is the new Demon Deacons. We’re all in this together.”
The senior is on what he called, “I don’t know what, defense number three or four for me.” That means learning the new verbiage yet again. “They made some changes to their language. They made some changes to our language. Flashcards is the key,” he said with a laugh. “Get your flash cards going and, in a week, or so you’ll figure it out.”
The Quarterback Battle
Naturally, all eyes are on the quarterback battle. The position embodies the Wake Forest team right now. There are veterans who came in from other schools mixed with some Wake returnees looking for their chance. With seven quarterbacks on the Spring roster, it is work enough to make sure everyone gets the snaps needed at each drill for the coaches to have some thoughts going forward.
“I don’t like to do too much evaluation until we even get to practice six,” Dickert said. “I’m looking for a command. I’m looking for a guy that when he makes a mistake isn’t hanging his head. And how he’s making sure the team is responding to him.” He said with only 11 offensive linemen in camp they have to limit the full team reps in order to keep everyone healthy.
Main Image: Tony Siracusa
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