Three Deacs are out for the season.
Starting LT Justin Herron, reserve DB Coby Davis, and DL Elontae Bateman are all out for the rest of the season
Sadly, the injury bug has hit Wake Forest very hard. According to Les Johns of the Demon Deacon Digest, Wake Forest will lose RS senior left tackle Justin Herron, reserve safety Coby Davis, and reserve DL Elontae Bateman for the rest of the season. Bateman has unfortunately been medically disqualified.
BREAKING: Unfortunate injury news for the Deacs, as redshirt senior offensive lineman Justin Herron is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury sustained Thursday at Tulane. https://t.co/cV0wWI1yXv
— Les Johns (@Les_Johns) September 4, 2018
The biggest of this loss is Justin Herron. Herron was Third Team All-ACC last season and was the best returning pass-blocking offensive lineman for the Deacs, according to Pro Football Focus. Herron went 469 snaps last season without allowing a sack and sadly only played in 13 snaps against Tulane before getting injured.
With the new redshirt rule in place and Herron having not played in four games, there is perhaps a chance that Herron would be eligible for a sixth year. According to Johns, this is a topic the media is likely to bring up to Coach Clawson today.
For the offensive line, it is likely that the team will roll with the same unit they had for the majority of the Tulane game with Jake Benzinger switching over from right tackle to left and bringing in Nate Gilliam at right tackle. Entering the season, the program was very proud of having six worthy starters, but now, that depth is a necessity with the injury.
With the extra days of rest after playing on Thursday night, the Deacs are preparing for their home opener against Towson.
