Wake Forest picks trio of captains

Two returning seniors and one transfer will be the permanent captains for Wake Forest’s football program.

Safety Nick Andersen is a second-year captain. Running back Demond Claiborne is expected to lead the Deacons’ offense and will also be a captain. And center Devin Kylany, who was a captain for Washington State last season, will now be a captain for the coaching staff that he followed to Winston-Salem.

Wake Forest will have a fourth captain rotating on a game-to-game basis.

Coach Jake Dickertannounced the three captains to the team on Sunday.

Each of Andersen, Claiborne and Kylany is his final season of eligibility. Andersen and Kylany are sixth-year seniors, though, while Claiborne is entering his fourth season.

Andersen is the only returning captain still with the Deacons from last season. Four of them — Taylor Morin, DeVonte Gordon, Kevin Pointer and Jasheen Davis — all ran out of eligibility with last season, while Luke Petitbon transferred to Florida State.

Wake Forest had either five or six captains in every season of Dave Clawson’s 11-year tenure. In most of Jim Grobe’s 13-year run as Wake’s coach, the Deacons had rotating captains on a game-by-game basis.

So, this is something of a blend of the past two coaches of the Deacons.

Wake Forest starts its season with Friday night’s home game against Kennesaw State. The Owls are coming off a 2-10 season and have a new coach in Jerry Mack. This will be Kennesaw State’s first season competing as a full-time FBS member.