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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest senior wide receiver Carlos Hernandez was named a preseason All-American by Phil Steele this week in addition to four Demon Deacons being named to the preseason All-ACC teams.
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— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) June 11, 2026
Hernandez garnered Third Team All-America honors as a punt returner while also being a First Team All-ACC selection as a returner, and Fourth Team All-ACC at wide receiver. Additionally, redshirt senior defensive lineman Langston Hardy was named Second Team All-ACC while senior linebacker Aiden Hall was named Third Team All-ACC and redshirt junior defensive back Davaughn Patterson was named to the fourth team.
Well-deserved recognition 🎩
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— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) June 12, 2026
More on the preseason honorees:
Carlos Hernandez | WR | SR
As a junior: Played in all 13 games… Caught 40 passes for 611 yards and three receiving touchdowns… Also scored a rushing touchdown and returned a punt for a score… Had a career day in the win over Delaware (11/22), catching five passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, including a 97-yarder… Totaled 100 receiving yards, 51 rushing yards and two total touchdowns in the victory over North Carolina (11/15) … Led the Deacs with six receptions for 73 yards in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl win (1/2) … Played both as a slot receiver and wideout… Returned 20 punts for 249 yards and a touchdown with a long return of 88 yards as a special teamer.
Langston Hardy | DL | R-SR
As a redshirt junior: Earned an All-ACC honorable mention… Appeared in and started all 13 games for the Demon Deacons… Led the ACC and finished fifth in the country with 17 tackles for loss… Tied for 11th in Wake Forest history with 17 TFLs in a season… Totaled 67 tackles, 17 TFLs, seven sacks and a fumble recovery… His seven sacks led the team and were good for fifth-most in the conference… Made four tackles and 2.5 sacks in his second game as a Deac against Western Carolina… Recorded a season-high three tackles for loss the next week against NC State (9/11) … Finished the year strong with eight tackles (season-high), two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and two QB hits in the season finale against Duke (11/29) … Graded as the No. 11 EDGE in the ACC by PFF (min. 500 snaps)… Graded as the third-best overall defender on the team by PFF… Played 619 regular-season snaps, fifth-most in the ACC amongst all linemen and edge rushers.
Aiden Hall | LB | SR
As a junior: Appeared in and started all 13 games… Finished the season with a career-high 7 tackles, eight tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and three pass breakups… 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) … Had a season-best two tackles for loss in the win over Western Carolina (9/6) … Made a season-high 10 tackles and one behind the line of scrimmage at Duke (11/29).
Davaughn Patterson | S | R-JR
As a redshirt sophomore: 2025 All-ACC Honorable Mention… 2025 Athlon Preseason All-ACC… Played in all 12 games… Made 78 total tackles, four TFLs, nine pass breakups and forced a fumble… Finished sixth in the ACC and first on the team with nine passes defended… Allowed just two touchdowns all season… Named ACC defensive back of the week and awarded to PFF’s Team of the Week following a standout performance in the win over SMU (10/25) … Only five ACC defensive backs played more snaps (753) and none played more snaps as a slot corner … Also spent time at strong safety and on special teams.
𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤: Episode One 🎩 pic.twitter.com/76wlZSILjf
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) June 11, 2026
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