30 key Miami Hurricanes for 2025 season: Akheem Mesidor back at home on the edge
The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 31 with a marquee matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., ABC).
With the calendar officially flipped to August, the Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes’ roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal’s fourth season.
Today: The No. 11 player on our list, Akheem Mesidor.
What to know
Position: Defensive lineman
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
Year: Sixth-year redshirt senior
How he got to Miami: 2022 transfer (West Virginia)
Key stats: 75 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups in 27 games (23 starts) over three seasons for Miami
In summary: After missing almost all of the 2023 season with injuries to both feet, Akheem Mesidor started every game for Miami in 2024, tying for the team lead with 5.5 sacks and finishing third on the team with nine tackles for loss. He primarily played at defensive tackle for Miami last season but is slated to be back on the edge — his natural position — opposite Rueben Bain Jr. for the 2025 season. The Hurricanes have young talent beyond Bain and Mesidor on the edge, but that group (notably Armondo Blount, Marquise Lightfoot and Hayden Lowe) is inexperienced, but UM will likely need Mesidor to build on last season for the Hurricanes to have a successful season up front.
What they’re saying
“A big step I’ve been trying to take this offseason is obviously the leadership role. I think I’m the oldest guy in the room, but just I want to lead by example but also I want to be more vocal. This offseason I’ve been bringing guys along with extra work. I just want to get to know everybody, and I want everybody else to get to know me, know my story, know my why. We have a deep room, and we have a bunch of guys who can play. We need to work together as we’ve been. We need to get together and just establish our identity in that room and just dominate.” — Mesidor on his growth
“I know what it takes. It just felt good to be back. I felt kind of sluggish [last season], but that happens with most people when they come back from a missed season. I feel like I started off slow, finished off strong. I feel like the spring is going very well, so I feel like I’m getting back to myself as well.” — Mesidor on what he learned from the 2024 season
“For us, the best part about Akheem Mesidor is Akheem is selfless. Completely unselfish. And you recognized that last year. To help us win, it would benefit us for him to go inside and play. And he got some awesome reps. And you know what? He caught the attention of a lot of scouts. So for his future, it paints well because guys are willing to go in there and do that dirty work. It speaks volumes of your toughness, right? Your resiliency, your competitiveness and, and now, being able to keep him outside and let him do what he does. He’s a special person. He’s a special talent. He’s as explosive and as strong as you can have for an edge-setter. He’s got a ton of experience, so looking forward to him having just an absolute monster year.” — Coach Mario Cristobal on Mesidor
The rest of the series
No. 12: Wide receiver Joshisa Trader
No. 13: Offensive lineman Markel Bell
No. 14: Defensive back Xavier Lucas
No. 15: Defensive lineman Justin Scott
No. 16: Wide receiver CJ Daniels
No. 17: Defensive lineman David Blay
No. 18: Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten
No. 19: Center James Brockermeyer
No. 20: Wide receiver Keelan Marion
No. 21: Defensive back Jakobe Thomas
No. 23: Defensive back Keionte Scott
No. 24: Running back Jordan Lyle
No. 25: Defensive back Damari Brown
No. 26: Defensive lineman Armondo Blount
No. 27: Wide receiver Malachi Toney
No. 28: Defensive back Ethan O’Connor
No. 29: Linebacker Kamal Bonner
No. 30: Running back CharMar Brown
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