Demond Claiborne’s status updated; Wake's OL runs thin
WINSTON-SALEM – Demond Claiborne is doing what he can to play against Western Carolina on Saturday.
Whether Wake Forest’s star running back gets to a playable point, coach Jake Dickert isn’t sure.
“We’ll see” if he plays Saturday, Dickert said on Wednesday morning. “It’s a contact injury. I think that’s the hard part. Love to see him out there. He’s doing everything he can to prepare to play mentally and physically.”
Claiborne suffered a rib injury on one of the first three plays against Kennesaw State on Friday night. The senior running back returned for one play in the second quarter of Wake’s 10-9 win, but exited after a 4-yard run.
In the second half, he had an ice pack on the left side of his midsection.
Claiborne is the focal point of Wake’s new offense. Other than his three carries for 19 yards against the Owls, the Deacons had 111 yards on 44 rushes (2.5 per rush) against Kennesaw State.
“His normal Tuesdays, Wednesdays are always going to be a little bit slower because of the volume,” Dickert said. “But he’s tough, he’s focused, he wants to be out there.
“I thought today was a step in the positive direction.”
Dickert said it doesn’t enter the equation that Wake’s next game — Sept. 11 against N.C. State — is a quick turnaround with two fewer days before the game.
“No, one game at a time,” Dickert said. “We’re focused on one moment and what we need to do for him and for the team on what we need to do to go out there and get a win.”
Offensive line running thin
The Deacons have played one game and are missing four offensive linemen who started fall camp with the program.
“To be in Week 2 and be a little bit thin at that position,” Dickert said, “one that we thought we’d be strong at …
“It’s been tough at that position.”
Monday’s press conference brought news that Clinton Richard has a broken foot and will be out indefinitely. He started at left guard and played all 78 snaps against Kennesaw State.
George Steih will start at left guard against Western Carolina. He’s a redshirt sophomore who can play tackle or guard.
Uber Ajongo has been listed on both depth charts as the backup to Fa’alili Fa’amoe at right tackle. But he was not in pads last week and will be out again this week. Dickert said he has been out since fall camp.
“It’ll be a couple of more weeks and it’ll be a better question after the bye week,” Dickert said, alluding to Wake’s 16 days off between the N.C. State game and its game against Georgia Tech.
Those are in addition to veteran linemen Rodrick Tialavea and Jacob Dennison, both of whom left the program in August for personal reasons. Dennison posted on his Instagram that he medically retired from football.
Dickert said the next interior offensive linemen who would be called upon are Ja’Marion Kennedy, a transfer from Louisiana Tech, and Jack Hines. He said the backup reps at tackle have been taken by Elliot Demaine and Aidan Martin this week; both of them are freshmen.
