Wake Forest Professional Athletes

Wake Forest in the NFL: Week of Aug. 16–22, 2026

Seven years is a long time to be away from professional football. For Alex Bachman, it apparently wasn't long enough to kill the dream.

The Los Angeles Rams signed the Wake Forest wide receiver this week, bringing him back to the NFL after an absence that stretches back to 2019. The Rams made room on the roster by waiving an injured receiver — a calculated move as Los Angeles preps for its preseason schedule. Bachman was never a household name during his first stint in the league, but the fact that an NFL franchise is betting on him again at this stage speaks to something scouts see on the film.

For Demon Deacon faithful, Bachman's signing is a feel-good footnote in a week that saw the usual preseason shuffle across the league — and a reminder of just how many Wake Forest products are embedded in NFL rosters heading into the 2026 season.

A Crowded Alumni Map

Wake Forest has quietly built one of the deeper alumni networks in the NFL for a program of its size. The Deacons have players dotted across the league at virtually every position, from the offensive and defensive lines to the secondary to special teams.

On defense, the Deacons are particularly well-represented at linebacker: Jahmal Banks (Ravens), Boogie Basham Jr. (Panthers), Essang Bassey (Commanders), Branson Combs (Jaguars), Jasheen Davis (Saints), Luke Masterson (Raiders), Luiji Vilain (Panthers), Scotty Washington (Ravens), A.T. Perry (Broncos), and Justin Strnad (Broncos) are all in camp. That's a remarkable concentration of linebacker-caliber talent from one ACC program.

In the secondary, Jessie Bates III remains one of the most decorated Deacons in the league, patrolling the back end for Atlanta as a free safety. Caelen Carson is with Dallas, Ja'Sir Taylor is with the Jets, Malik Mustapha is with San Francisco, and Chelen Garnes is in Detroit.

Along the offensive line — a unit that rarely gets flowers but quietly defines franchises — Zach Tom anchors things for Green Bay, while Justin Herron (Raiders), Michael Jurgens (Vikings), and Nate Gilliam (Bengals) round out a cohort of linemen making their cases in camp.

At receiver, Greg Dortch continues his career in Detroit and Taylor Morin is with Philadelphia. Sage Surratt has transitioned to tight end and is listed on the Cardinals roster. Blake Whiteheart is also at tight end for Cleveland.

Bottom Line

Bachman's comeback is the story of the week — it's the kind of second-act narrative the preseason was made for. But zoom out, and what stands out is the sheer volume of Demon Deacons across 20-plus NFL rosters heading into the 2026 season. Winston-Salem is producing pro talent at a rate that deserves more attention than it gets. Whether Bachman sticks with the Rams or not, Wake Forest's footprint in the NFL isn't going anywhere.

A Name That Tells a Story

Before the 2026 season kicks off, one of the NFL's steadiest offensive linemen made a change that had nothing to do with football — and everything to do with family.

Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Zach Tom, the 2022 Wake Forest product who has been one of the league's more consistent blockers since entering the league, has legally changed his last name to Bako-Bewele. The new surname honors his Nigerian heritage, drawn from his paternal grandparents. He explained the decision in a video that circulated widely, framing the name change as a personal reclamation — a way to carry forward a lineage that his previous name didn't reflect.

Opponents who've spent seasons game-planning around "Zach Tom" will need to update their scouting reports. But for Wake Forest fans who watched him develop in Winston-Salem, the player is the same: a physical, technically sound lineman who has started at right tackle for Green Bay and is expected to hold that role heading into September.

The move was notable enough to generate coverage across multiple outlets, and Bako-Bewele handled it with clarity — this wasn't a rebranding exercise, it was a roots exercise. For a player who entered the league and carved out a starting role through reliability rather than flash, the decision fits the profile: deliberate, purposeful, and understated in its confidence.

Another Demon Deacon Making Noise

Bako-Bewele isn't the only Wake Forest alum drawing attention this week. In Detroit, wide receiver Greg Dortch was highlighted as one of three under-the-radar contributors on the 2026 Lions roster — a "hidden gems" piece from Yahoo Sports NFL singled him out alongside Rock Ya-Sin and Keith Abney II as key role contributors on a Lions team still defining its competitive identity.

Dortch has bounced around the league since his days as a quick-twitch weapon for the Deacs, and his inclusion on Detroit's 53-man roster is a testament to the kind of versatility that keeps journeyman receivers employed. For a Lions offense that has invested heavily at the top of the depth chart, reliable role players like Dortch provide the connective tissue.

Meanwhile, Kobie Turner of the Los Angeles Rams earned a shoutout from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him the No. 9 interior defender in the NFL. The Wake Forest defensive tackle has been one of the more pleasant surprises on the Rams' defensive line, and his PFF grade is creating interesting roster dynamics — particularly with the potential return of Aaron Donald reportedly creating snap-count decisions for the coaching staff.

Three alumni. Three different teams. Three different roles — franchise starter, depth receiver, ascending defensive tackle. It's a quietly strong week for the Demon Deacon NFL community, headlined by a name change that will be remembered long after any single season is over.

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