Tight End Brandon Chapman looks to be "hammer" at Wake Forest

His brother, Dalton Chapman, was a part of Clawson’s 2012 recruiting class at Bowling Green, a program Clawson led to a conference championship and three bowl appearances.

Dalton redshirted his freshman year at Bowling Green and eventually had his football career ended prematurely because of blood clotting issues, but the Chapman family is well aware of what Clawson and his staff are capable.

“I saw first-hand how coach Clawson turned things around,” Brandon Chapman said. “I believe in what coach Clawson is doing.”

Chapman is a three-star rated tight end from Grove City, Ohio, and recently measured at 6-foot-5 ½, 250-pound -- he is one of six 2016 recruits that are joining the Deacs in Winston-Salem this week to begin his college career early.

“I’m excited to work on my physique and I’m anxious to get working in the weight room as soon as possible,” Chapman said. “With what (tight end and special teams) coach (Adam) Scheier said, the odds of me redshirting are pretty slim. Coming in early is kind of making up for the redshirt, so that I’m ready to go for the next season.”

Enrolling in January greatly increases the opportunity for playing time in year one, as we saw vividly last season for the Deacs. Plus the Deacs potentially have depth issues at the tight end position -- which could help lead to Chapman seeing the field as a freshman.

“Coach Scheier and coach Clawson were telling me I have a big shot of playing next year. I have to get in right away and get after it and keep grinding,” Chapman said. “It’s going to be tough the first couple weeks, because I’m going to be about seven hours away from home, but I’m just going to stay focused on what I need to do.”

That doesn’t mean there won’t be an adjustment period for the Ohio native.

“Being away from my home,” Chapman said when asked what he’s most concerned about in coming to Wake early. “The group I’ve grown up with will still be together in high school and I’m going to be seven hours away in North Carolina. I’m going to miss a decent amount of my last year of high school, but it’s going to help me knowing the plays and the workout schedule earlier.”

Chapman’s senior season at Grove City High School was cut dramatically short after a vertebrae fracture in his back. He played in two preseason scrimmages and the first game of the season before the injury. He rehabbed and made it back for the final game of the year.

“I don’t regret doing it at all. I played really well,” Chapman said. “It’s something I’ll remember forever, as I got to play with my best friends one last time.”

Chapman said the rehab effort wasn’t run, but he knew it was something he had to attack.

“The break was a break -- I just had to make sure the muscles around it were strong, so that it doesn’t get hurt again,” he said.

One of his high school career highlights was catching a 40-yard TD pass after his team had been focusing on the run game almost exclusively.

“As a sophomore, that was crazy. I didn’t know what to do,” Chapman said. “I just gave the ball to the ref and didn’t know what to do.”

Chapman had hoped to work on his pass catching at a senior, but believes his strength is something the Wake coaching staff is looking for.

“Just being a hammer and sealing holes. I’m going to be an impact blocker,” Chapman said. “It makes me happy to see my teammates succeed, and see the team work together to get things done. Nothing made me happier than when our team (Grove City) just gelled.”

Chapman took his official visit on Halloween and was also on campus for a camp during the summer. He said fellow tight end Devin Pike showed him around campus, and they still keep in touch.

“I love how together the players were. I felt like I was a part of them,” Chapman said about the vibe while he was on campus.

And getting to start early means everything to him.

“It makes me feel really good and makes me feel that they believe in me,” Chapman said. “That simple fact makes me want to go in there even more and focus even harder.”