If we are being honest about the 2025 Wake Forest football season, it was the defense that carried the team. The offense had some up moments depending upon who was at quarterback or whether the star running back was healthy enough to play. But the defense came up big week after week. A few of the defensive stalwarts are gone. But a large percentage are back for 2026. Is there a chance the defense can be just as good as last year? And, with a tougher schedule, what will it mean to the finished product?
Can the Wake Forest Defense Lead the Way Again?
Some of the players who are going to make or break the defense have seen limited or even no action in Spring camp due to health/injury issues. The return to full speed of players like Davaughn Patterson, Aiden Hall, and Langston Hardy will presumably have a big impact after the Summer.
In the meantime, the number of players who have made a name for themselves in the Spring continues to grow. The attention up front, on the defensive line, is of particular note. In any given practice, watching the defensive line get hands on three or four passes is both impressive and concerning. Is that defensive line playing that well? Or is the offensive line overmatched against its own defense? The answer is yes to both.
The Current Outlook
Defensive tackles coach Peter Kaligis said, “What I’m more impressed with is how they are rushing together.” He said he can see that they are starting to understand the offensive line protections and how to attack it. “And to see them work together in that aspect, that’s where I’m happy with it.”
Kaligis is measured when evaluating the play of the defensive line and his defensive tackles in particular. “Will I ever feel like we have had an accomplished Spring camp. I can tell you, I will never feel that way,” he said with an honest chuckle. “There’s always something little to be worked on.” Of note on Thursday, he said he saw a few of his players seemingly gassed on the last few plays of the morning. “Mentally, they let their mind go to being tired instead of playing with a clear heart, a clear mind, and a clear conscience when they put their hand in the dirt.”
With just under a week left of camp, he said he needs to see the focus ramped up from the beginning to the end of practice. From there, it will be a lot of time with the strength and conditioning staff. He said the players will have their individual workouts for what their specific needs are, but that he expects they will also be pushing each other.
The Hardy Boys
Cam Hardy has been one of the defensive ends whose ramped-up play has been visible this Spring. He is getting more snaps, in part, because his brother Langston has been held out for injury issues. The younger Hardy has taken advantage of the situation. He said he was ready to step up because he was “Taught to see the best of what happens. It’s out of my control, so I’ve just got to do what I can do on the field.”
The brothers are the sons of former NFL all-pro Kevin Hardy. They are joined on the line by defensive end Gabe Kirschke, whose father, Travis, won two Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers over a 12-year NFL career with three teams. And new to the team this year is defensive back Brian “Deuce” Blades II, the son of Brian Blades, who won two national championships with the Miami Hurricanes and played for Seattle in the NFL.
There is a lot of legacy to go around the Wake Forest Spring camp. Cam Hardy said he felt the weight of the name more when he was growing up than he does now. “I’m more used to it now,” he said. “I don’t necessarily feel any pressure. I’m just out there playing like I have been doing my whole life.”
That’s not to say there is not still some coaching going on from the Hardy patriarch. “I’m still a student. I still learn. I learn new stuff every day,” he said as he mentioned that he still talks to his dad every day after practice. And he said his dad is still happy to chime in with both sons and impart his football wisdom. “He loves it. He’s retired, so he’s not doing anything anyway. He loves it more than I do.”
Looking for the Leader
Hardy said he is confident this year’s defense can be just as good as last year’s. He credited last year’s success to the leadership on defense. Hardy said this year they will be relying on Hall and Patterson, among others.
Kaligis also pointed to defensive linemen Dallas Afalava and Zach Lohavichan, as leaders for the defense to lean on. Two weeks ago, Afalava also told us that he expects him and Lohavichan to be a guiding influence. Afalava is definitely the more vocal of the two. Kaligis said Lohavichan is the quiet leader. “Zach does things that a lot of people don’t see. He does a great job.”
Wake has a Spring scrimmage disguised as a Fan Fest on Saturday and then two more practices next week to wrap up Spring camp.
Main Image: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
