You’re standing on the hot turf at the McCreary Football Complex, the humid North Carolina air thick enough to chew on, and you realize something pretty fast. This isn’t a "participation trophy" kind of environment. Wake Forest football camp is notoriously different from the mega-camps you’ll find at places like Clemson or Alabama. It’s smaller. It’s more technical. Honestly, it’s a bit of a grind. If you’re a high school recruit or a parent of one, you’ve probably heard the buzz about "The Wake Forest Way." It’s not just a marketing slogan. It’s a very specific, almost surgical approach to evaluating talent that defines how Dave Clawson has kept a private school with the smallest undergraduate enrollment in the Power 4 consistently competitive.
Recruiting is a messy business. Most kids show up to these summer sessions thinking a fast 40-yard dash is their golden ticket. It isn't. Not here. The Demon Deacons staff—guys like offensive coordinator Warren Ruggiero and defensive coordinator Brad Lambert—are looking for something way more nuanced than raw track speed. They want to see if you can actually take coaching in the ten minutes between drills. Can you fix a footwork error on the fly? Do you give up when a four-star prospect jams you at the line during one-on-ones?
What the Wake Forest Evaluation Process Really Looks For
Most people get it wrong. They think the Wake Forest football camp is just a fundraiser for the program or a way to fill out a mailing list. While every school likes the camp revenue, Clawson’s program relies on these camps to find "diamonds in the rough" who fit their specific developmental model. Because Wake Forest can’t always out-recruit the blue bloods for five-star talent, they have to be better at talent identification.
They look for "frames."
Take a look at the offensive line. You’ll see the coaches obsessing over wing-span and knee-bend rather than just how much a kid can bench press. They want players who can grow. They’ve built a reputation on taking a 240-pound tight end and turning him into a 300-pound NFL-caliber tackle. If you’re at camp, they are watching how you carry your weight. They’re watching your frame.
The Quarterback Clinic and the RPO System
If you’re a quarterback, the pressure is even higher. The Wake Forest "slow mesh" RPO system is one of the most unique schemes in all of college football. It requires a level of patience and peripheral vision that most high schoolers haven't even thought about. During the camp sessions, Ruggiero isn't just looking for a cannon arm. He’s looking for processing speed.
Basically, can you hold the ball in the belly of the running back while staring down a linebacker, and then make a split-second decision without panicking?
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You’ll see the coaches put QBs through rapid-fire decision-making drills. It’s fast. It’s loud. If you miss a read, they’ll get in your ear. They want to see if you crumble or if you lean into the correction. It’s kind of intense, but that’s the reality of playing in the ACC.
The Logistics: Dates, Tiers, and the McCreary Impact
The summer calendar at Wake is usually packed with a few different types of events. You have the Prospect Camps, which are the bread and butter for rising seniors and juniors. Then there are the Specialist Camps for kickers and punters—an area where Wake has historically been elite. Don't forget the Youth Camps, though those are obviously more about community engagement and fundamentals than high-level recruiting.
- Location: Usually centered around the McCreary Football Complex and the Doc Martin Practice Fields.
- The Facilities: Wake has poured millions into their infrastructure. The indoor practice facility is top-tier, which is a lifesaver when those afternoon thunderstorms roll through Winston-Salem.
- Registration: It’s almost always done through the official "Wake Forest Football Camps" portal. Pro tip: these fill up fast because the staff intentionally keeps the coach-to-player ratio low.
One thing you’ve got to realize is that the "Friday Night Lights" style camps are where the energy is highest. There’s something about being under the lights at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium that brings out the best in kids. It also brings out the most scouts.
Why Small Groups Matter
At a lot of big-name camps, you’re just a number on a bib. You might get three reps in an hour. At Wake Forest football camp, the emphasis is on volume. They want to see you fail, fix it, and try again. This is where the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) of the coaching staff shines. Clawson has one of the highest coaching retention rates in the country. When you’re at this camp, you aren't just getting coached by some grad assistant who started three weeks ago. You’re getting coached by guys who have been in this system for a decade.
The Mental Game: Beyond the Drills
I’ve talked to plenty of parents who walked away frustrated because their kid didn’t get an offer on the spot. Here’s the reality: Wake Forest is incredibly selective. Because they are a high-academic institution, they aren't just checking your highlight reel. They are checking your transcript.
If you’re at camp and a coach asks you about your GPA, that’s a good sign. It means they like the physical tools and are now doing the "due diligence" on whether you can actually get through admissions.
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Common Misconceptions
- "If I don't have an offer before camp, I won't get one." Total myth. Wake Forest is famous for the "camp offer." They want to see the twitch and the lateral movement in person before they pull the trigger.
- "It’s only for elite recruits." Not really. It’s for anyone who wants to see how they stack up. Even if you don't end up a Demon Deacon, the technical coaching you get—especially on hand placement for linemen—is worth the registration fee.
- "The stars matter." The coaches at Wake notoriously ignore the star ratings from 247Sports or Rivals. They trust their own eyes. They’ve turned plenty of unranked kids into All-ACC performers.
Standing Out When the Heat is On
How do you actually catch an eye? It’s not by being the loudest guy in the line.
- Finish every drill. If the cone is 10 yards away, run 11 yards. Coaches notice the guys who don't decelerate before the finish line.
- Be first in line. It shows confidence.
- Listen to the feedback. If a coach tells you to widen your stance, do it immediately. Don't argue. Don't explain why your high school coach does it differently.
- The "Weight Room" Look. Show up in shape. Wake Forest’s strength and conditioning program, led by Brandon Hourigan, is legendary. If you show up looking like you haven't touched a weight since November, they’ll assume you don't have the work ethic for their program.
Honestly, the camp is a two-way street. You’re also evaluating them. You get to see how Dave Clawson interacts with his players. You see if you like the vibe of Winston-Salem. It’s a "work-hard, play-hard" culture. There isn't a lot of fluff.
The "Slow Mesh" Nuance
Let's talk about that RPO again for a second. If you're a wide receiver at this camp, you’re going to be asked to block. A lot. The Wake Forest system requires receivers who are willing to get their hands dirty because the ball stays in the "mesh" so long that the defense has time to recover. If you're a "diva" receiver who only wants to run go-routes, you'll stand out—but for the wrong reasons. They want tough kids.
Actionable Steps for Camp Success
If you're serious about attending a Wake Forest football camp, don't just show up and wing it. You need a plan.
1. Clean up your social media and film. Before you even set foot in Winston-Salem, ensure your Hudl link is in your Twitter/X bio. Coaches will often look you up the second you check in and they see your name on the roster.
2. Focus on "The Three Ls": Lineup, Listen, Level-up. Get to the front of the line, listen to the specific technique being taught (even if it's different from what you know), and show improvement in every subsequent rep.
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3. Bring your transcript. It sounds nerdy, but having a digital copy or even a physical one in your bag can change the conversation with a recruiting coordinator. It proves you're a "Wake Forest kid."
4. Research the position coach. Know who you’re talking to. If you’re a linebacker, know Brad Lambert’s history. Mentioning that you watched how they played against Florida State or NC State shows you’re a student of the game.
5. Hydrate 48 hours in advance. The North Carolina humidity is no joke. Every year, talented kids wash out of camp by 2:00 PM because they're cramping. Don't let a lack of water ruin a potential scholarship opportunity.
The Wake Forest football camp experience is a litmus test. It’s a chance to see if you have the mental toughness to play for a program that prides itself on being "top of the mountain" in terms of preparation. It isn't easy, and it isn't always fun in the moment, but it’s one of the most honest evaluations you’ll get in the country. Whether you walk away with a scholarship offer or just a better understanding of your own game, you’ll know exactly where you stand.
Next Steps for Recruits:
- Check the official Wake Forest Sports website for the upcoming summer schedule (usually released in late winter/early spring).
- Reach out to the Director of On-Campus Recruiting to express interest before registering.
- Prepare for a high-volume, high-repetition environment that prioritizes technique over raw stats.