Deacons Daily

Top Players of the 2022 Wake Forest Football Season

Wake Forest's success was defined by these key veterans

Sam Rausch

Top Players of the 2022 Wake Forest Football Season
Top Players of the 2022 Wake Forest Football Season /

With the 2022 Wake Forest football season come and gone, we now begin taking a look back at the highlights. First up is our top five players for the Deacs.

Sam Hartman

After an eye-opening 2021 season where Hartman threw for 4000+ yards and 39 TDs, the 2022 season came with similar success. In 12 games as a starter, Hartman completed 63.1% of his passes for 3701 yards, 38 TDs and 12 INTs.

Hartman departs Wake Forest for Notre Dame as the program leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, total offensive yards and touchdowns responsible for. Additionally, Hartman sits atop the ACC in all-time passing touchdowns (110).

READ: Wake Forest releases 2023 football schedule

The Sam Hartman era at Wake Forest has reached its conclusion, but Hartman will forever remain a legend in Winston-Salem.

Ryan Smenda Jr.

Despite missing the opener against VMI due to a targeting suspension, Smenda led Wake Forest in total tackles (117), good for third in the ACC. Smenda proved to be incredibly efficient all season, averaging 9.75 tackles per game.

Finishing his time at Wake Forest with 355 tackles, 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception, Smenda has been a key cog in the middle of the Deacs’ defense for the past five seasons. Sitting at eighth all time in the program for tackles (355), Smenda will look to hear his name called in the 2023 NFL Draft in April.

A.T. Perry

A.T. Perry has been a dominant receiver for Wake Forest the last two seasons. Posting back-to-back seasons with 1000+ yards receiving and 11+ TDs, the Hartman to Perry connection was a special one.

Perry is the program-leader in career receiving touchdowns (28) and single-season receiving touchdowns (15). This season, Perry hauled in 81 catches for 1096 yards (13.5 YPC) and 11 TDs.

Perry signed with Klutch Sports and played in the East-West Shrine Bowl alongside Kobie Turner on Feb. 2. Perry will prove to be an interesting addition to an NFL roster this spring.

READ: Wake Forest Football Transfer Portal Tracker

Malik Mustapha

The emergence of sophomore Malik Mustapha was a storyline to watch during the 2022 season, as he was constantly involved in game-defining plays. This season, Mustapha notched 58 tackles (32 solo), 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three pass deflections.

The former Richmond transfer was a definite bright spot on the Deacs’ improved 2022 defense. Against Liberty, Mustapha had a career performance, tallying 13 tackles (7 solo), two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Mustapha is primed to be one of the leaders on the 2023 Wake Forest team with the departures of DL Rondell Bothroyd, Smenda, CB Gavin Holmes and DL Dion Bergan Jr, among others.

Kobie Turner

Nicknamed “The Conductor,” Kobie Turner made an instant impact upon his arrival to Wake Forest campus. The former Richmond transfer was a vital component of the defensive line and earned significant respect, including a midseason All-American honor from Pro Football Focus.

READ: Sam Hartman's transfer decision is justified

Turner notched 38 tackles (21 solo), two sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass deflections and a fumble recovery in his 2022 campaign. Turner’s time at Wake Forest can be classified as nothing but a success, and he now has his eyes set on the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Sam Rausch
SAM RAUSCH

Sam is a contributing football writer for Deacons Daily

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