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By Mark Livingston
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Wake Forest is starting fresh this season with a new coach, a new offense, and a wide-open quarterback competition.
With last year’s starter Mitch Griffis no longer on the roster, the Demon Deacons are trying to figure out who will lead the offense in 2025. Three quarterbacks are competing for the job, but no one has taken a clear lead yet.
Coach Jake Dickert said, “We’re looking at everything — leadership, consistency, who’s ready to take control. It’s a real competition, and that’s how it should be.”
Ashford’s Experience Could Give Him an Edge
One of the front-runners is Robby Ashford, a 6-foot-2, 229-pound graduate transfer who played at Auburn and South Carolina. He’s athletic and fits well with the new, faster offense led by offensive coordinator Rob Ezell.
Ashford said, “This is exactly the fresh start I needed. There’s great energy here. The coaches want us to play fast and free, and I’m all in.”
Wide receiver Jamari Palmer said, “You can tell Robby’s been around. He’s confident, and the offense just moves smoother when he’s on the field.”
Purdie Isn’t Backing Down
But Ashford has some tough competition. Deshawn Purdie, a 6-foot-4 sophomore transfer from Charlotte, impressed coaches during spring practice with his size, arm strength, and work ethic.
Ezell said, “Deshawn’s grinding every day. He’s getting more comfortable with the system and working hard.”
Purdie said, “I’m just trying to get better every day. It’s a healthy competition, and we all want to win the job.”
Freshman Pizzella Is the Future
The third quarterback is true freshman Steele Pizzella, who enrolled early to learn the playbook. He’s likely to redshirt this season, but coaches say he has a lot of potential.
Ezell said, “Steele’s got the poise and quick release we love. We’re going to take our time with him, but he’s definitely one to watch.”
A Faster, More Aggressive Offense
Wake Forest is moving away from the slow, methodical offense they used before. Ezell wants to speed things up and attack defenses more aggressively.
Ezell said, “We want to be aggressive, get the ball out quickly, and keep defenses on their toes. Our quarterback has to be decisive and run the show.”
Dickert added, “We’re looking for a guy who can lift the whole team — on the field and off. That’s what winning teams have.”
Starter Decision Coming Soon
Fall camp begins in early August, and the coaches plan to pick a starter by mid-month. But they’re willing to wait if no one stands out.
Dickert said, “Reps will decide it. We want to see who’s ready to lead every day — not just on game day, but in meetings and the locker room.”
Season Opener in Sight
Wake Forest opens at home against Kennesaw State on August 29, then faces Western Carolina and NC State in the first three games.
Ashford said, “There’s definitely urgency. We all know what’s on the line, and whoever wins the job will be ready.”
This quarterback competition shows the fresh start at Wake Forest — competitive, promising, and wide open. Over the next few weeks, we’ll see who is ready to lead the Demon Deacons back to success.
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