2026 EDGE Sefa Sackey commits to Wake Forest

Cincinnati Deer Park three-star EDGE Sefa Sackey has committed to Wake Forest, he announced on Friday evening.

He chose the Demon Deacons over Virginia, USC, Northwestern and others.

Sackey is the No. 622 overall prospect and No. 68 EDGE in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 30 recruit in Ohio.

The 6-foot-7, 205-pounder has garnered plenty of attention this fall and finally saw his recruitment take off. Wake jumped in the mix with an offer in September and got him to campus for an official visit at the end of October.

“Development is the big piece,” Sackey previously told Rivals’ Greg Smith this fall about what will factor into his decision. “A place I can grow, a place where they have the patience to develop me for the next level. Not just for football but academically ready for life through connections and meeting the right people.”

Sackey becomes the No. 2 commit in head coach Jake Dickert’s class. Wake now has 24 total commits and a class that ranks No. 59 nationally, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

More on Wake Forest’s 2026 class

The jewel of the class for Dickert and Co. is Denver (N.C.) East Lincoln Rivals300 quarterback Grant Lawless. He currently ranks as Rivals’ No. 205 overall recruit and No. 15 QB. Lawless committed at the beginning of June.

“Lawless is another name to know among Rivals300 quarterbacks,” Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power wrote in September. “Lawless is a toolsy signal caller with a plus arm and good athleticism. He’s shredding opposing defenses in the first month of the season, averaging 334 yards and five touchdowns per game.”

Lawless isn’t the only Wake representative in the Rivals300, either. Daphne (Ala.) Bayside Academy linebacker Monroe Partin is Rivals’ No. 16 LB in the nation and also joined the fold in June during OV season.

The Demon Deacons have dug into the Southeast recruiting trail this cycle, too. Four Georgia natives are in the mix to date: Dacula Hebron Christian Academy three-star interior offensive lineman Fletcher Turk, Thomas County Central three-star running back Christian Lawrence, Suwanee Peachtree Ridge three-star wide receiver Kobe Adeleke-Hokes and Hoschton Mill Creek three-star LB Braxton Rembert.

Other top commits in the class include: Carmel (Ind.) three-star safety Isaac Nelson, Greenville (S.C.) Riverside three-star cornerback Somad Eaddy, Greenwood (Ind.) Center Grove three-star tight end Dominick Barry, Arlington (Texas) three-star IOL Eli Holbrook and Raleigh (N.C.) Cardinal Gibbons three-star QB Gannon Jones.