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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Six Wake Forest football players were honored by Athlon Sports on the publication's 2026 preseason All-ACC teams. This comes after wide receiver Carlos Hernandez was named a preseason All-American by Phil Steele earlier this summer, while five Deacs also earned spots on the Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC teams. More on the Athlon preseason All-ACC honorees: DL Langston Hardy | Second Team Defense Placed on the 2025 All-ACC Team. Hardy recorded 17.0 tackles-for-loss in 2025, the third-most in the ACC last season and the most out of any returning player in the conference. 2025 ACC Tackles-For-Loss Leaders Rank Name School Solo TFLs Assist TFLs TFL Yards Total TFLs 1. Isaiah Smith SMU 15.0 6.0 70 18.0 2. Akheem Mesidor Miami 14.0 7.0 114 17.5 T3. Langston Hardy Wake Forest 13.0 8.0 67 17.0 T3. Rasheem Biles Pitt 12.0 10.0 67 17.0 T5. Will Heldt Clemson 13.0 5.0 74 15.5 T5. Reuben Bain Jr. Miami 12.0 7.0 75 15.5 Of his team-high 17.0 tackles-for-loss, Hardy totaled 7.0 sacks last season, which was eighth in the ACC. Additionally, Hardy added nine quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery while totaling 67 tackles (28 solo, 39 assists). WR Carlos Hernandez | Second Team Punt Return | Third Team Offense Finished the 2025 season with a team-high 611 yards and three receiving touchdowns on 40 passes caught. In the Duke's Mayo Bowl against Mississippi State, Hernandez went over 70 all-purpose yards, finishing with 73 receiving yards on six catches and four yards on punt returns. Over the last four games, Hernandez made explosive, game-changing plays with scores from 70 yards, 79 yards, 88 yards and 93 yards respectively. These explosive plays were some of the biggest in school history: Hernandez surpassed his previous career high against the Tar Heels with 202 all-purpose yards versus Delaware (Nov. 22). After recording 181 yards against Virginia (Nov. 8), the Alhambra, Calif., native notched the longest reception in school history with a 93-yard score against the Blue Hens. Longest Receptions in Wake Forest History Rank Reception Yards Date Opponent 1. Robby Ashford to Carlos Hernandez 93 11/22/2025 Delaware T2. Benjamin Mauk to Jason Anderson 85 9/4/2004 Clemson T2. Gary Schofield to Tim Ryan 85 11/27/1982 Clemson 4. Marshall Williams to Chris Givens 81 9/11/2010 Duke T5. Riley Skinner to Marshall Williams 80 9/19/2009 Elon T5. Jim Kemp to Todd Dixon 80 9/25/1993 Northwestern T5. Sam Hartman to Jaquarii Roberson 80 10/31/2020 Syracuse T8. Robby Ashford to Carlos Hernandez 79 11/22/2025 Delaware T8. Tanner Price to Chris Givens 79 10/15/2011 Virginia Tech T8. Cory Randolph to Jason Anderson 79 9/20/2003 East Carolina Hernandez got his name on the scoreboard with a 79-yard reception for a touchdown late in the second quarter which was the eighth-longest reception in program history. In the road win at No. 12 Virginia, Hernandez made pivotal plays on special teams, finishing the game with 124 punt return yards, including an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter. The 88-yard return is the second-longest punt return in program history and marked the first punt return for a touchdown since Taylor Morin's 73-yard return against North Carolina A&T last season. Longest Punt Returns in Wake Forest History Rank Name Opponent (Date) Yards 1. Nick Sacrinty VMI (10/23/1942) 94 2. Carlos Hernandez Virginia (11/8/2025) 88 3. George Coghill Navy (11/23/1991) 86 4. Fabian Davis Illinois (8/29/2002) 82 5. Bill Barnes William & Mary (9/22/1956) 77 DB Davaughn Patterson | Third Team Defense Placed on the 2025 All-ACC Team. Patterson finished second on the team with 80 total tackles and is the leading returning tackler for the Demon Deacons. His 80 total tackles finished the season inside of the top 20 in the ACC. Patterson also totaled a career-high nine pass breakups in 2025 to go along with his one interception. The nine pass breakups were tied for the fourth most in the ACC for the 2025 season. 2025 ACC Pass Breakup Leaders Rank Name School Pass Breakups 1. Devon Marshall NC State 16 T2. Brent Austin Cal 13 T2. Hezekiah Masses Cal 13 T3. Davaughn Patterson Wake Forest 9 T3. Avieon Terrell Clemson 9 T3. Demetres Samuel Jr. Syracuse 9 T3. Ashton Hampton Clemson 9 LB Aiden Hall | Third Team Defense Hall totaled the third-most tackles for the Demon Deacons last season with 73.0 tackles, including 8.0 tackles-for-loss. Also recorded three pass breakups and recovered a fumble last season. Appeared in –and started–all 13 games. Finished the season with a career-high seven tackles, eight tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and three pass breakup Graded as the No. 4 qualified linebacker against the run in the ACC. Graded as the third-best run defender on the team. Had a standout bowl game, recording seven tackles and 1.5 TFLs in the win over Mississippi State (1/2). Made a season-high 10 tackles and one behind the line of scrimmage at Duke (11/29). OL Clinton Richard | Fourth Team Offense Saw action in five games while making four starts for the Demon Deacons. Made his collegiate debut in the win over Kennesaw State, playing 78 snaps (8/29) Played a season-high 80 snaps in the ACC finale against Duke (11/29) Finished the season with 352 offensive snaps and a team-high run-block grade per PFF. DL Gabe Kirshke | Fourth Team Defense In his first season with the Demon Deacons, Kirschke tallied 37 tackles, ranking second on the team with 9.0 tackles-for-loss and third on the team with 5.0 sacks. Kirschke also forced a pair of fumbles this season, which was tied for the sixth-most in the ACC alongside Dylan Hazen . 2025 ACC Forced Fumble Leaders Name School Forced Fumbles Avieon Terrell Clemson 5 Omar Thornton Boston College 4 Akheem Mesidor Miami 4 Mitchell Melton Virginia 3 Clev Lubin Louisville 3 Dylan Hazen Wake Forest 2 Gabe Kirschke Wake Forest 2