Wake Forest football added four more commitments to its growing 2027 high school recruiting class over the weekend, including South Garner wide receiver Randolph Ross.
Wake Forest now has 19 players on its 2027 commitment list, the most of any North Carolina FBS program as of June 14. The Demon Deacons now have four players from in-state high school programs, tied with NC State for the most of any team.
Other players to pledge to Wake Forest over the weekend include:
- Brenham Cherne, all-state defensive lineman, from Melissa, TX;
- Jacquari Parks, cornerback, from Jacksonville, FL
- Sammy Dantonka, edge rusher, from Springfield, PA
Wake Forest’s class exits the weekend ranked as the No. 40 class nationally by 247Sports. The Deacs, who finished with nine wins in coach Jake Dickert’s debut last fall, have the third-best class in the state behind Duke (32nd) and NC State (34th).
Here are more details on the latest pick-ups by Wake Forest:
Randolph “RJ” Ross, WR, Garner, NC (South Garner HS)
- 6-2, 170
- Verbally committed to Wake Forest on June 14
- Fourth wide receiver commitment of the Deacs’ current class and the second from North Carolina, joining Steele Fletcher from Providence Day.
- Caught 48 passes for 836 yards, 9 TDs as a junior in 2025
- Held 15+ Division I offers, including from East Carolina, Charlotte, Campbell, Elon, North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central in-state. Other FBS offers included James Madison, Marshall, Troy, Coastal Carolina, Kent State, Liberty,Temple and Miami (OH). Visited JMU on June 5 and Wake on June 12
- Power 4 commitment could help Ross break into the 247Sports and/or Rivals statewide player rankings heading into the fall.
- From 247Sports: “An in-state receiver that’s gone a bit under the radar … The Demon Deacons are looking for a couple of guys who can play above the rim, and Ross seems to fit the bill” – Cameron Lemons Debro
Jacquari Parks, CB, Jacksonville, FL (Ed White HS)
- 5-11.5, 160
- Verbally committed to Wake Forest on June 13, 2026 after visiting the Demon Deacons in late May.
- The third cornerback to commit in Wake’s 2027 class.
- Picked off four passes and broke up six during Ed White High’s 2025 season
- Three-star prospect ranked No. 108 in Florida by 247Sports
- Held roughly 30 offers from Division I schools, according to his 247Sports profile, with South Florida, Boston College, Florida State and Pittsburgh listed most prominently along with Wake.
Brenham Cherne, DL, Melissa, TX (Melissa HS)
- 6-2, 270
- Verbally committed to Wake Forest on June 12, 2026.
- Named the Texas District 4 Defensive Lineman of the Year and a first-team all-state performer in 2025, per Rivals.
- Racked up 70.5 tackles, 23 quarterback hurries, 6.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks across 13 games, helping Melissa High to the state semifinals.
- Three-star prospect by 247Sports. Ranked the No. 191 player in talent-rich Texas.
- Held more than a dozen D1 offers with Kansas State, Pitt, Northwestern and Iowa State considered his other favorites.
Junior season highlights @CoachTScoggin @FootballMelissa @CarlosJChapa @CoachTJones5 @CoachSpann15 @MattNally1
Total tackles-70.5
Solo-28
Assist-32
TFL-6
Qb hurry-23
Sack-3.5
Through 13 games playedhttps://t.co/XXVgyaNsWs pic.twitter.com/HgE77nBmcr — Brenham Cherne (@Brenham_Cherne) December 16, 2025
Sammy Dantonka, EDGE, Springfield, PA (Cardinal O’Hara HS)
- 6-2, 225
- Verbally committed to Wake Forest on June 12 after visiting Winston-Salem in late May.
- Three-star prospect ranked No. 28 in Pennsylvania and No. 83 nationally among edge rushers by 247Sports.
- Picked Demon Deacons despite a strong push from West Virginia, Cincinnati and James Madison.
- Ranked the No. 4 2027 defensive lineman in Pennsylvania by RallyPreps.
What It Means
Wake Forest’s recruiting momentum started with the first official visit weekend in late May and has continued into mid-June, with the Demon Deacons now holding 19 commitments in the 2027 cycle.
The latest additions strengthen multiple position groups and highlight the national reach of Jake Dickert’s staff, with prospects arriving from North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas. While plenty of work remains before signing day, Wake boasts one of the ACC’s larger recruiting classes with a foundation that continues to expand.
👉 Wake Forest Football Recruiting Tracker: View every player who has committed to the Demon Deacons for the 2027 cycle.
More North Carolina football recruiting coverage
NC Football News is tracking recruiting from both sides of the state’s football pipeline:
- North Carolina high school commitments: See where in-state high school players have committed.
- North Carolina college commitment tracker: See which players are joining North Carolina’s FBS and FCS programs
- Latest Recruiting News & Updates: Explore our news feed for NC recruiting coverage and more.
