Syracuse faces one of the toughest defensive linemen in the country on Saturday in Wake Forest nose guard Nikita Whitlock.

At only 5 feet, 11 inches and 250 pounds, Whitlock uses his speed to get into the backfield — as evidenced by his 1.7 tackles for loss per game this season — good for seventh in the nation.

“You really can’t block him with one guy very effectively,” SU head coach Scott Shafer said during the Atlantic Coast Conference coaches’ teleconference Wednesday. “I love his motor. I actually love watching him play, I hate to say it.

“I wish he wasn’t playing in this game coming up, but he’s fun to watch play.”

Whitlock also has 52 total tackles and seven sacks this season to lead a Demon Deacons defense that has held its last three opponents to 15.7 points per game. SU center Macky MacPherson will draw him as a main assignment, but Shafer indicated he plans on providing help on most plays.

“You can’t try to create too many one-on-ones with him because he does a great job with that,” Shafer said.

With the Orange sitting at 3-4 and a visit to No. 3 Florida State in two weeks, stopping Whitlock and Wake Forest will be crucial to SU’s bowl picture in its first ACC season.