2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest

Name: Demond Claiborne

Position: Running Back

School: Wake Forest University

Height/Weight: 5’10”, 195–210 lbs

Class: Senior (2025 season)

Hometown: King William/Aylett, VA

High School: King William High School

Recruiting Rank: 4-star recruit, top-150 overall, top-10 RB nationally in 2022 class (247Sports Composite)

Draft Projections:

•  Pro Football Network → Day 2–3 (Rounds 3–4), RB6–8 (late 2025 big boards)

•  PFF → Day 3 potential with Day 2 upside

•  NFL Draft Buzz → Round 3–4, #7–8 RB

•  ESPN (Mel Kiper) → Top-10 RB (#8 overall at position)

•  WalterFootball → Round 3–4

•  Consensus → Day 3 (Rounds 3–5), RB7–9; mid-round value in deeper class

Career Background

A four-star recruit from Virginia, Demond Claiborne played limited roles early (freshman/sophomore) before breakout junior year in 2024 (school-record 1,049 rushing yards, 11 TDs). In 2025 senior season, he faced inconsistent offensive line play in Wake Forest’s slow-mesh scheme, rushing for ~907 yards and 10 TDs on 179 carries (5.1 YPC), with ~28 receptions for ~140 yards. Claiborne earned All-ACC honors previously and added kick return value (career TDs). He declared for the 2026 NFL Draft in mid-December 2025, opting out of any bowl.

Career Stats

•  2022–2023 (Limited): ~151 carries, ~643 yards, 5 TDs

•  2024 (Junior): 228 carries, 1,049 yards, 11 TDs (4.6 YPC); 23 receptions, 254 yards, 2 TDs; kick returns ~25+ YPR, 1 TD

•  2025 (Senior): 179 carries, 907 yards, 10 TDs (5.1 YPC); ~28 receptions, ~140 yards

•  Career Totals: ~558 carries, ~2,599 yards, ~26 rush TDs; ~74 receptions, ~534 yards; multiple return TDs

Advanced Stats (2025, PFF):

•  PFF Overall Grade → ~68.1 (mid-tier due to scheme/OL issues)

•  Yards Per Carry → 5.1 (strong efficiency)

•  Forced Missed Tackles → 36 (0.201 per attempt; 45th percentile among qualified FBS RBs)

•  Yards After Contact → 544 (3.04 per attempt; 50th percentile among qualified FBS RBs)

•  Breakaway Run Rate → ~42.5% (85th percentile among qualified FBS RBs)

•  Explosive Plays → 23 (0.128 per attempt; 62nd percentile among qualified FBS RBs)

•  Receiving Grade → Functional (underneath threats)

•  Pass Protection → Developing

Awards and Accolades

High School:

•  Metro/Tidewater District Player of the Year

College:

•  Third-Team All-ACC (RB & All-Purpose, 2024)

•  Doak Walker/Maxwell/Walter Camp Watch Lists (2025)

•  Program single-season rushing records contributor

Character and Leadership

Claiborne earns praise for toughness, evasion skills, and team captaincy. No off-field issues; viewed as gritty competitor who maximized opportunities despite scheme limitations. Declaration reflects professional approach.

Injuries

No major reported injuries; durable through volume in 2024–2025.

Play Style

Claiborne is a shifty, creative runner with excellent burst, lateral agility, and evasion in zone/slow-mesh schemes. He presses lines, recalibrates quickly, and explodes through creases with leg churn/contact balance. Functional receiver on screens/checkdowns; adds kick return value (career TDs, high YPR). Lacks elite size/power/speed; wins with finesse/vision. Comps include Nyheim Hines (quickness/returns) or Antonio Gibson (evasion/burst).

Strengths

1.  Evasion & Quickness — Elite lateral burst, rapid cuts; forces misses in space.

2.  Vision/Patience — Processes mesh points, anticipates holes; creative setup.

3.  Burst/Acceleration — Explosive through creases; home-run threat when edged.

4.  Contact Balance — Wiry strength, leg drive; gains YAC despite size.

5.  Special Teams Value — Proven kick returner; immediate NFL contribution.

Weaknesses

1.  Size/Power — Undersized; struggles vs. cluttered interiors or square tackles.

2.  Top-End Speed — Quick but not elite burner; pursuit catches up deep.

3.  Pass Protection — Inconsistent anchor/recognition; developmental.

4.  Receiving Polish — Limited routes; mostly underneath, occasional drops.

5.  Consistency vs. Pressure — Efficiency dips behind poor OL; hesitation in tempo.

Final Evaluation

Demond Claiborne is a shifty, explosive mid-round RB with evasion, burst, and return value in the 2026 class. Cross-referencing PFN, PFF, and NFL Draft Buzz highlights his creativity and big-play ability as translatable, though size, power, and scheme dependency cap ceiling. In zone-heavy offenses with return needs, Claiborne has Day 3 upside as a complementary/change-of-pace back (Nyheim Hines traits) with rotational floor. Strong pre-draft athletic testing could push into Round 3; he projects as a versatile contributor adding special teams spark.

Sources

•  Pro Football Network (2025 weekly scouting reports, big board)

•  PFF (grades, big board analysis)

•  NFL Draft Buzz (full profile/scouting report)

•  ESPN (stats, rankings)

•  WalterFootball (projections)

•  Sports-Reference/Wake Forest Athletics (career stats, bio)