As the 2024 NFL regular season kicks off on Sept. 5, Wake Forest will have a significant presence across the league, with 12 former athletes featured on opening weekend rosters.
San Francisco 49ers safety Malik Mustapha, a fourth-round 2024 NFL Draft pick, is expected to have a major role on what was a top ten overall defense a year ago. He had a stellar three-year career at Wake Forest, racking up 175 total tackles, 4 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions. Mustapha was all over the field in the NFL preseason, with 10 tackles, highlighted by an electric fourth-down goal line stop against the Tennessee Titans in the team’s preseason opener.
Cornerback Caelen Carson, a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys, has high expectations as the newest member of an already star studded secondary. He locked down opposing receivers in his four-year career at Wake Forest, accumulating 120 tackles, 29 passes defended and 3 interceptions. Carson had an impressive performance in training camp and recorded 9 tackles in the preseason. With injuries creating a gap in the Cowboys’ secondary, he could secure a starting role to begin the season.
Minnesota Vikings center Michael Jurgens, a 2024 seventh-round pick, enters the NFL with an impressive resume. He was a six-year man at Wake Forest, starting 46 career games and was a three-time team captain. Jurgens earned Second Team All-ACC honors in 2023, along with the fourth highest overall grade in the nation among interior linemen. While unlikely to be a rotational player, he will have the opportunity to learn from a group of veterans ahead of him.
After a monster rookie season with the Los Angeles Rams, defensive tackle Kobie Turner has put the rest of the league on notice. In 2023, he played in 17 games, recording 57 tackles and 9 sacks, finishing in third-place AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Now a team captain, Turner is set to take on an even greater role after the retirement of eight-time All-Pro Aaron Donald at the end of last season.
New Orleans Saints receiver A.T. Perry, now in his second season, had an efficient rookie campaign. Despite being inactive early on, he stepped up as teammates dealt with injury. Perry tallied 12 receptions for 246 yards and 4 touchdowns. In the 2024 preseason, he led the NFL in receiving yards with 176 yards in just three games. The departure of Michael Thomas will definitely create more targets for Perry in a somewhat unproven receiver room.
Safety Jessie Bates III of the Atlanta Falcons, entering his seventh NFL season, is looking to maintain momentum following the best statistical season of his career. In 2023, he posted single-season career highs with 132 tackles, 6 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles. Bates has earned team captain honors for the second year in a row. Alongside recent signee Justin Simmons, the pair have the potential to be the best ball-hawking safety duo in the league.
Third-year Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Zach Tom is likely to continue his remarkable consistency after starting all 17 games last season. In 1,068 snaps, he allowed 2 sacks, while committing just 3 penalties. Tom dealt with a torn pectoral muscle this offseason that required surgery, keeping him out of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and mini-camp. However, he was cleared for training camp and should be among the NFL’s best once again.
Other former Demon Deacons poised to make an impact in the NFL this season include Carlos “Boogie” Basham (New York Giants), Greg Dortch (Arizona Cardinals), Ja’Sir Taylor (Los Angeles Chargers), Justin Strnad (Denver Broncos) and Luke Masterson (Las Vegas Raiders).
