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?<\/p>\n
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<\/a>, Aiden Hall, and Langston Hardy will presumably have a big impact after the Summer.<\/p>\n In the meantime, the number of players who have made a name for themselves<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Defensive tackles coach Peter Kaligis said, \u201cWhat I\u2019m more impressed with is how they are rushing together.\u201d He said he can see that they are starting to understand the offensive line protections and how to attack it. \u201cAnd to see them work together in that aspect, that\u2019s where I\u2019m happy with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Kaligis is measured when evaluating the play of the defensive line and his defensive tackles in particular. \u201cWill I ever feel like we have had an accomplished Spring camp. I can tell you, I will never feel that way,\u201d he said with an honest chuckle. \u201cThere\u2019s always something little to be worked on.\u201d Of note on Thursday, he said he saw a few of his players seemingly gassed on the last few plays of the morning. \u201cMentally, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cTaught to see the best of what happens. It\u2019s out of my control, so I\u2019ve just got to do what I can do on the field.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Current Outlook<\/h3>\n
The Hardy Boys<\/h3>\n