Opponent Breakdown: Wake Forest Defense

Langston Hardy and Gabe Kirschke are the key players up front for Wake, and they man the edge spots for the defense. Hardy is the son of former Illinois great Kevin Hardy, while Kirschke leads the team in pressures with 8 this season. Both players were lauded with preseason accolades, and they have both started the season well. Kirschke has been outstanding, and the Cards will have to account for him as a run defender as well as when he rushes the passer.

The Deacs are a little undersized up front, but that works for their defensive scheme as they look to create havoc with their front four. Dallas Afalava is the main man in the middle of the defense. He plays the 3-technique, which allows him to do what he does best, which is shoot gaps and get into the backfield. He has done a good job collapsing pockets as a pass rusher, and he holds up against the run as well. Louisville will get another good test to see if their success running the ball against SMU can be sustainable.

Wake runs into issues on defense once you get past the front four. While this defense has played well, opposing offenses have essentially been playing 7-on-7 against their pass defense. That starts at linebacker, where Frank Cusano and Aiden Hall have had no success stopping the pass. The defense as a whole has only seen 14 passes not be completed. For context, Lincoln Keinholz had 11 incompletions against Ole Miss and 9 against SMU. The linebackers are struggling in coverage, but they do a solid job against the run, with Vincent Firenze being an efficient playmaker when he's in the game.