Wake Forest Presents Challenges on Both Sides of the Ball

Syracuse will be challenged on both sides of the ball against Wake Forest this Saturday as they bring two players with them that cause trouble on offense and on defense. Kickoff is at 12:30 in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, November 2.

Nikita Whitlock has been excellent on defense so far this season, recording 13.5 tackles for loss including seven sacks so far this season. He also has seven quarterback hurries and 52 total tackles on the season, 35 solo.

"[Whitlock] is a great player, very disruptive. You really can't block him with one guy very effectively," Head coach Scott Shafer said. "I love his motor, I actually love watching him play, I hate to say, and I wish he wasn't playing in this game coming up, but he's fun to watch. He's extremely disruptive and I think the big thing is you have to run your offense and account for him but you also have to stay within the framework of what you do. You can't create too many one-on-ones with him because he does a great job with that."

Michael Campanaro has stood out on offense, catching 65 passes so far this season for 792 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 113 yards per game. He has the most catches among the Wake Forest receiving corps by a margin of 51 receptions.

"Campanaro is a phenomenal football player, he accounts for 32 percent of their offense. In the breakdowns that we've had, 44 percent of all the passes thrown have been thrown at him," Shafer said. "In clutch situations they're going to him, creating mis-matches with him on the linebackers or a nickelback…You can't necessarily keep him from catching a pass but you have to do a good job tackling him when he does and change some things up to try and cause a little confusion and change up some of the reads for the quarterback."

Prior to kickoff, the 2013 LetterWinners of Distinction will be honored. This year's class includes SU football legends Art Monk ('80) and Craig Bingham ('82) as well as John Nicholson from the '68 crew team, Eileen Smith Edsall from the '81 volleyball and basketball teams and wife of Maryland football head coach Randy Edsall, and the 1983 NCAA champion men's lacrosse team.

Fans can purchase tickets to the LetterWinner of Distinction dinner being held on Friday, Nov. 1 at Turning Stone Event Center in Verona, N.Y. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased by calling 315-443-1419 or by visitingsuathletics.com/MyCuse. Tickets must be purchased by Thursday, October 31.

Donovan McNabb makes his return to the Dome on Saturday to have his jersey retired at halftime. McNabb, who retired from professional football prior to the 2013 season, will have his No. 5 jersey hung from the rafters.

Tickets for the Wake Forest game are available starting at $29. They can be ordered online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or purchased in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office. For $75 fans can take advantage of the Tops Family Four Pack, which includes two adult tickets, two youth tickets, a $5 concession voucher, free cushion seats with a seatback, and one Skytop parking pass.

For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football) and Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball). Check out exclusive videos on Orange All-Access and behind-the-scenes pictures on Instagram (syracuseathletics).

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