Inside The Panthers

Update on Wake Forest's QB Situation for Pitt Game

The Pitt Panthers will face a Wake Forest team dealing with an injury at quarterback this week.

Stephen Thompson

Update on Wake Forest's QB Situation for Pitt Game
Update on Wake Forest's QB Situation for Pitt Game /
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PITTSBURGH -- Wake Forest appeared to have found a new starting quarterback last week against Virginia Tech, but an injury will force them to turn back to a previously unseated starter this week against the Pitt Panthers. 

Redshirt junior Michael Kern made the first start of his career for the Demon Deacons last week while rotating with Mitch Griffis, who was the starter coming out of training camp. But after taking a hard sack against the Hokies, Kern is out for the Pitt game with a shoulder injury, according to a report from Les Johns of Demon Deacons Digest, meaning Griffs will retake the reigns this weekend. 

Griffis has struggled as of late, failing to surpass 180 yards passing or a 60% completion rate while tossing just one touchdown to three interceptions during Wake Forest's current three-game losing streak. He was much better during their first three games of 2023 - all wins - when he completed 61.8% of his passes for 837 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. 

Kern stepped in against the Hokies and was solid, completing 14 of 22 passes for 166 yards and no touchdowns but no turnovers as well. He exited with the Demon Deacons trailing 20-13 midway through the fourth quarter. 

Johns added in his report that there is "nothing specific" either quarterback has shown that would force an opposing team to take special care in preparation for them, so he expects Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson to be forthcoming about the quarterback situation this week when he addresses the media. 

Johns included further context from Clawson, who said this is similar to a situation his program had experienced in years past. 

"I felt like we were kind of in this position in 2016." Clawson said following the loss to Virginia Tech. "John (Wolford) really struggled, then Kendall (Hinton) came out in the second half (at Duke) and played really well. Then he got hurt in the Delaware game. John came back and was a different player for the next year and a half."

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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