Wake Forest Demon Deacons running back Demond Claiborne came into the Week 3 clash with the NC State Wolfpack on the back of a career-high performance. Yet, that form appeared to have dissipated quicker than the smoke from the burning food truck on the Winston-Salem sideline after a difficult night.
Demond Claiborne Struggles Against NC State in Thursday Night Week 3 Opener
Claiborne, who led the nation with 16.3 yards per carry heading into Week 3, was looking to build on a dominant performance against West Carolina that saw him rush for three touchdowns and 193 yards in a 42-10 rout. However, at halftime of the bitter rivalry game with NC State, the elusive yet powerful back had averaged just 3.4 yards per carry for 34 yards and a score.
It didn’t get much better for the Demon Deacons and their usually dynamic running back in the second half. In fact, it got much worse. The NC State defense suffocated the Wake Forest ground game to keep their undefeated run intact, leaving Claiborne with just 35 yards on the night, with his 2.9 average yards per carry the least since midway through the 2024 season.
Furthermore, his total rushing yardage was the lowest in nearly a full calendar year when tallying double-digit rushing attempts, dating back to 20 yards (1.8 yards per carry) in a loss against the Ole Miss Rebels on Sept. 14, 2024.
Demond Claiborne finds the end zone 🙌
Deacs stretch the lead to two scores 🔥@WakeFB | @DemonDeacons | #GoDeacspic.twitter.com/TRdZrhuToG
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) September 12, 2025
Despite a quiet outing against NC State, Claiborne remains one of the top running backs in the country. If he can put this Thursday night catastrophe behind him and continue to produce performances like in the Week 2 win over Western Carolina, the Wake Forest product should establish himself as a potential pro player, according to one high-profile NFL Draft analyst.
“Demond Claiborne is one of the highest-rated prospects in this game,” PFSN’s Ian Cummings said ahead of this showdown with NC State, “and could go on to be a Top 5 RB in the 2026 NFL Draft. The 5’10”, 195-pound runner doesn’t have the size of a workhorse back, but he forces the offense to feed him touches with his uber-dynamic imprint.”
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“He’s no doubt fast enough and explosive enough within his mold, but his superpower is his hyper-elite change-of-direction, transition balance, and recalibration ability through contact,” Cummings continued. “He moves as if he’s controlled by a joystick, and that ability to control spacing and keep defenders guessing makes him a big-play threat in both phases.”
