Wake Forest News

The weakest unit on the Wake Forest football team was dealt a blow when redshirt sophomore Zack Wary, who was battling to start at linebacker, left the program because of medical reasons.

Coach Dave Clawson announced the decision on the first day of fall practice. Wary and junior Jaboree Williams were expected to compete to fill the shoes of Brandon Chubb, an All-ACC linebacker last season.

Clawson has faced similar situations with tight end Zack Gordon (spine) and running back Tyler Henderson (concussions) in recent years, and both remained on scholarship and took student assistant roles on the staff.

Coming out of high school, Wary’s combination of size (6-4) and speed (4.5-second 40-yard dash) drew offers from Arkansas, Boise State and others, so the Deacons were happy to land him. Last year, he played in eight games as a reserve, missing the last three because of injury. Clawson singled him out in spring practice.

“Another guy who hasn’t played a lot that has quietly had a really good spring is Zack Wary,” Clawson told the Winston-Salem Journal in April. “I just think he looks so much more comfortable playing the position.

“Zack is a great student and is one of the brightest. And sometimes guys like that that are so bright, they’re processors. I think there’s a time that they stop processing and they just start playing. And he’s shown that more this spring than ever before. You just see that.”

Who will be the inside linebackers with Wary now gone? To find out for free, sign up for basic access to ACCSports.com.