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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The #ProDeacs family added its newest member when the Minnesota Vikings chose running back Demond Claiborne with the 198th overall pick in the sixth round.
Building up the backfield. pic.twitter.com/oMvbT9R8yW
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 25, 2026
Claiborne is just the fourth Wake Forest player to ever be chosen by the Vikings and the first since offensive lineman was taken in 2024 in the seventh round.
Home-run hitter 💥 pic.twitter.com/EpdnoLYEJv
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 25, 2026
This marks the first Wake Forest running back to be drafted since 2013 when the New York Jets selected Tommy Bohanon in the seventh round.
This is the second Wake Forest cornerback to be drafted in the last three years after Caelen Carson was taken by the Cowboys in the fifth round in 2024.
There is only one @ClaiborneDemond 💫 pic.twitter.com/TKKlQJ0lFD
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 25, 2026
Wake Forest has now had at least one pick in every NFL Draft since 2017 with the exception of last season. Additionally, during this streak, the Demon Deacons have had 57 players sign NFL contracts.
In 2024, the Deacs had three draftees in the NFL Draft when San Francisco chose fourth-round pick Malik Mustapha, Dallas Cowboys selected fifth-round pick Caelen Carson and Minnesota Vikings drafted seventh-round pick Michael Jurgens. The three selections were the most since four Deacs were taken in the 2012 NFL Draft.
An explosive athlete is heading to the @Vikings 🎩 pic.twitter.com/ywEcZlDajq
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 25, 2026
From head coach Jake Dickert
“With Demond, the Vikings are not only getting one of the most explosive athletes I have ever coached but they are also getting the ultimate competitor. His numbers speak for themselves in terms of being one of the best running backs in school history. He is also an explosive kick returner and will be an asset to teams on special teams. He’s worked his tail off to get to this point and I am excited to see him continue to grow at the next level.”
Home run hitter 👊 pic.twitter.com/9NIofiZ6Xk
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 25, 2026
From Mel Kiper, ESPN
“He’s a guy who’s got the natural cutback ability. He’s got the burst through the hole with cut back ability. He runs with conviction as well to the low center of gravity. You see him get to the outside, and then he’s off to the races. He can hit the home run. As a running back, you are getting into tough runner in traffic that is able to break a long-distance run. He was able to do that.”
Louis Riddick, ESPN
“Pound for pound, he was as tough as anybody in this draft. When this dude goes, he is gone, despite his being, what, 5-9, 198. He was gone.”
Claiborne also finished his career with 26 rushing touchdowns, good for fifth-best in Wake Forest history while totaling 3,602 all-purpose yards, ninth-most in school history.
Looking good in purple @ClaiborneDemond 🎩 pic.twitter.com/s1Mo4yZAH9
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 25, 2026
In 2025, he recorded 140 receiving yards, breaking the 1,000-plus all-purpose yards threshold back-to-back years as he also led the Deacs with 907 rushing yards.
Our guy is going to Minnesota @ClaiborneDemond 💫 pic.twitter.com/41wBNEYQK7
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 25, 2026
Claiborne earned ACC running back of the week honors following a monstrous performance against Western Carolina (9/6), running for a career-high 193 yards and three touchdowns. He also earned ACC running back of the week honors after tallying 144 yards and a touchdown on the ground against Oregon State (10/11).
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