Hardy Having Breakout Season with New Environment at Wake Forest
11/14/2025 7:42:00 AM | Football
“My game has definitely improved a lot since I got here,” Langston Hardy
Joining his brother Camden after a pair of seasons at UConn, redshirt junior defensive lineman Langston Hardy has found that most everything that was told to him about Wake Forest has held true.
The biggest difference versus what his brother Camden shared with him? The energy brought by first-year Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert and his staff.
"Obviously, my brother was here with the old staff, so things are a little different," Hardy said. "The biggest difference I've noticed is the energy. The energy that Coach Dickert brings is incredible. Team meetings, special teams meetings — everything is live and loud. It always wakes you up in the morning and gets you ready to go.
"That's my favorite thing about this place."
Hardy said the cultural shift has been felt immediately, and not just in the tone of meetings. Even the daily rhythm of practice has been altered when they faced a short week preparing for in-state Big Four rival NC State.
"No, it definitely has," Hardy said. "One thing that's been big for us is flipping the schedule — starting walkthroughs in the morning and practicing in the afternoon. That's allowed us to make up a lot of reps. It's not all physical banging, but we're still getting the same reps and the same looks in. It's been good."
That extra emphasis on detail and efficiency has started to show up on the field. Hardy has 44 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks through the first eight games, leading the Demon Deacons in both categories. He's also added five quarterback hurries, proving to be a disruptive force in his first season with the Demon Deacons.
"Last week, we made a big improvement," Hardy said. "Since I've been here, the big thing we've always talked about is rushing together. That's been a point of emphasis from (defensive tackles) coach (Peter) Kaligis. He tells us, even though the defensive tackles and ends meet separately, we need to make sure we're rushing as one. So one play, this person's covering, we're communicating with games, I've got hand signals with all the D-tackles.
"It's been good. We're really gelling well, and we'll continue to make strides moving forward."
That sense of cohesion has paired well with Hardy's individual development. After two seasons at UConn, where he appeared in 20 games and posted 44 total tackles, seven TFLs, and 3.5 sacks in 2024 alone, he arrived in Winston-Salem looking to elevate his game. Working with defensive ends coach T.J. Hollowell and Kaligis have already paid dividends.
"My game has definitely improved a lot since I got here," Hardy said. "Working with Coach T.J. and Coach Kaligis, we're always working on hands and different things — even in walkthroughs, we're focused on some small detail to make us better, whether it's in the run game or pass game.
"They've helped me use my hands better, become a more physical rusher, and also refine some of my speed moves. That's still an area I want to improve."
For Hardy, the combination of his brother Camden's perspective, the new staff's energy, and his own commitment to growth has made the transition to Wake Forest smooth. And with the way he's producing early this fall, he's quickly showcasing that he's going to be a reliable and destructive force on the defensive line this season.
The biggest difference versus what his brother Camden shared with him? The energy brought by first-year Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert and his staff.
"Obviously, my brother was here with the old staff, so things are a little different," Hardy said. "The biggest difference I've noticed is the energy. The energy that Coach Dickert brings is incredible. Team meetings, special teams meetings — everything is live and loud. It always wakes you up in the morning and gets you ready to go.
"That's my favorite thing about this place."
Hardy said the cultural shift has been felt immediately, and not just in the tone of meetings. Even the daily rhythm of practice has been altered when they faced a short week preparing for in-state Big Four rival NC State.
"No, it definitely has," Hardy said. "One thing that's been big for us is flipping the schedule — starting walkthroughs in the morning and practicing in the afternoon. That's allowed us to make up a lot of reps. It's not all physical banging, but we're still getting the same reps and the same looks in. It's been good."
That extra emphasis on detail and efficiency has started to show up on the field. Hardy has 44 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks through the first eight games, leading the Demon Deacons in both categories. He's also added five quarterback hurries, proving to be a disruptive force in his first season with the Demon Deacons.
"Last week, we made a big improvement," Hardy said. "Since I've been here, the big thing we've always talked about is rushing together. That's been a point of emphasis from (defensive tackles) coach (Peter) Kaligis. He tells us, even though the defensive tackles and ends meet separately, we need to make sure we're rushing as one. So one play, this person's covering, we're communicating with games, I've got hand signals with all the D-tackles.
"It's been good. We're really gelling well, and we'll continue to make strides moving forward."
That sense of cohesion has paired well with Hardy's individual development. After two seasons at UConn, where he appeared in 20 games and posted 44 total tackles, seven TFLs, and 3.5 sacks in 2024 alone, he arrived in Winston-Salem looking to elevate his game. Working with defensive ends coach T.J. Hollowell and Kaligis have already paid dividends.
"My game has definitely improved a lot since I got here," Hardy said. "Working with Coach T.J. and Coach Kaligis, we're always working on hands and different things — even in walkthroughs, we're focused on some small detail to make us better, whether it's in the run game or pass game.
"They've helped me use my hands better, become a more physical rusher, and also refine some of my speed moves. That's still an area I want to improve."
For Hardy, the combination of his brother Camden's perspective, the new staff's energy, and his own commitment to growth has made the transition to Wake Forest smooth. And with the way he's producing early this fall, he's quickly showcasing that he's going to be a reliable and destructive force on the defensive line this season.
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