When your team goes 4-8 in back-to-back seasons, individual prospects for being valued at the next level can be dim. But they are not extinguished. And with that in mind, Wake Forest Pro Day highlighted 13 players before a bevy of NFL scouts on Wednesday.
It was an unusual Pro Day by Wake Forest standards. For the first time in 11 years, it was not Dave Clawson as the master of ceremonies touting the skills of his former players. New head coach Jake Dickert was shepherding in players who had never played for him. The 13 Deacs were put through the usual measurables behind the scenes (with results not available to the media). Once they were done with the vertical jump, bench press, and weigh-ins, they made their way to the field at the McCreay Football Field House for the standard things like the 40-yard dash, shuttle, and three-cone drill.
Wake Forest Pro Day
A Transitional Moment
Dickert talked about what it was like to present the players who finished their Wake careers under Clawson. “Once you’re here, once you wear our logo and our jersey, it means something. And I want these guys to be proud of their program and to be able to come back and to be able to represent us to the highest fashion.” Dickert said he told the players that they have an open door to Wake Forest. “This is their home. This will forever be their home.”
Dickert made note of Clawson’s accomplishments with the group of 13 that were there Wednesday, but also with the players from that 11-year era who are on NFL rosters.
The new coach met with the players before they went about showing their wares to the NFL scouts. His advice? “Relax. You’ve done this a million times.” He told them not to think this day would make or break their football futures because what they put on tape for the years they played would always matter more.
Once the on-field drills started, Dickert quietly and with no notice went to other tasks of the day. And who should just as quietly appear, mingling with former players and scouts, but Clawson.
Big Bodies Moving Fast
Defensive lineman Jasheen Davis heeded Dickert’s advice. “I wouldn’t really call it pressure,” he told the gathered media. “You play football at the highest level and I just feel like this is another stepping stone in my life.” He performed well on the drills designed for the position. The hopes are now that he gets calls from individual teams to go do workouts specifically for them. It was a surprise when he did not get invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He said he took it as motivation for the Pro Day workouts and for any team workouts that may still come.
Offensive lineman Devonte Gordon spent much of the last month training in Atlanta. He said he was nervous before the day started. “It’s the same feeling, I think any time you are excited about something,” he said. “When you’ve got to perform, you’re going to be nervous if you care. And I care a lot about what was going on.” He was happy to have Clawson’s in-person support. “I’ve been here for six years. I committed seven or eight years ago. So me and Clawson are pretty much family at this point,” he said with a chuckle.
The Quarterback
Quarterback Hank Bachmeier also admitted to being nervous. But he has had a lot of that lately. He has been training for Pro Day in his native Southern California. But those workouts took a back seat to the birth of his son, Bronco Bachmeier, (the birth name of Hank’s father). Bronco was two weeks old when his the quarterback hit training camp on the other coast.
His throwing drills took another route on Wednesday. Receiver Taylor Morin, there for his own day, did not run patterns for his former quarterback after experiencing leg cramps on some sprint drills. Bachmeier was left recruiting other receivers who were there, including current Deac Trishtin Glass. “We literally got a recruiting intern,” Bachmeier said of his new receiving targets for the day. “He told me last night he played DIII tight end a couple of years ago. So he did a great job.”
He said he thought he did well on Wednesday. But he was also philosophical about what the day meant. “It’s been a cap on a great college career with the ups and downs. And I’m just excited for what’s next.” He talked about what it was like for Clawson to be there. “He looks like he’s getting a tan,” Bachmeier joked. “I’m incredibly grateful that he gave me this opportunity.” After acknowledging the disappointment of a 4-8 record, he added, “This is a tremendous university that I am so honored to say I received a Master’s from, and attended, and played football here.”
Bachmeier has individual workouts already booked with the Chargers on Thursday of this week. He will also be at the Panthers’ local Pro Day early next month.
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