Wake Forest is a tiny school with an undersized team, but the Demon Deacons shouldn’t be overlooked.
If the unbeaten Miami Hurricanes (6-0, 2-0 ACC) start thinking about next week’s marquee matchup with Florida State, Wake has enough talent to steal a win in Saturday’s game at Sun Life Stadium.
The Deacons’ best players are below the ideal size for their positions. But wide receiver Michael Campanaro and nose guard Nikita Whitlock are players any big-time program would like to have.
Campanaro, who became Wake’s all-time leading receiver (217 catches) in last week’s 34-10 win over Maryland, is just 5-feet-11 and 190 pounds but has a knack for getting open.
Wake hasn’t been able to run the ball, ranking 114th nationally in rushing yards per game (101.14) and 116th in yards per carry (2.95). Trying to remedy that, coach Jim Grobe has often gone with an empty backfield and used short passes and underneath routes. Miami’s pass coverage needs to account for Campanaro at all times.
“(If we) make the mistakes we made against (North Carolina tight end Eric) Ebron, we’re asking for the same result,” Hurricanes coach Al Golden said. “And it’s the same thing on defense. This No. 50 for them, Whitlock … this guy is good.”
Whitlock (5-10, 250) has the size of a fullback but is one of the most active defensive linemen in the nation. Whitlock leads Wake with 45 tackles (13.5 for loss), seven sacks, seven quarterback hits and two forced fumbles. He also has blocked a kick.
“There’s others, but those two are difference-makers,” Golden said.
Since losing 56-7 at Clemson on Sept. 28, Wake (4-3, 2-2) has looked good in wins over North Carolina State and Maryland, with a bye week in between.
“They’re healed up, they’ve had time off, they’ve made some changes,” Golden said. “They’re playing fast, and it’s got our guys’ attention. Plus, we’ve got to play better.”
While the Hurricanes are No. 7 in the BCS standings, turnovers have been a recent problem. Miami has committed 12 turnovers in its last three games — four in each — and ranks 92nd in the nation in turnovers lost (14). After three consecutive games of losing the turnover battle, the Hurricanes dropped from fourth to 28th in turnover margin.
“We can’t live like that,” Golden said. “The buck stops with me. I am responsible for the football, as the head coach. I either need to change some plays or change some players, but I have to get it right.”
With plenty of shortcomings — and their coaches reminding them of such — the Hurricanes shouldn’t have trouble staying humble. Last week, defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio even noted that Wake Forest has been to the Orange Bowl more recently than Miami (2007 to UM’s 2004).
This is the first game in 2 1/2 seasons the Hurricanes have played free of the NCAA’s punitive cloud. After receiving word Tuesday that there will be no further postseason ban stemming from the Nevin Shapiro scandal, Miami can look forward to its first bowl game since 2010. But not this week, with a hungry challenger in town.
“We know we have a dogfight every game,” said Wake Forest tailback Dominique Gibson of Glades Central High. “We’re not big like other teams. We grind. We play with more heart.”
