Bain and Mesidor lead the pass rush, but Miami Hurricanes have depth behind them
The Miami Hurricanes’ pass rush runs through its veteran edge rushers in Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor.
But the Hurricanes also know they have enough talent beyond that duo to make an impact when needed.
That was needed — and on display — on Saturday during Miami’s 42-7 win over Stanford.
Mesidor did not play against the Cardinal while dealing with an injury sustained the week prior against Louisville, but there was little drop-off from Miami’s defensive line in his absence with several younger players stepping up for the veteran.
“There’s a lot of guys I think we can put on the field right now and not think twice about it,” Hurricanes defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said.
Among those guys...
-Sophomore Marquise Lightfoot, who has been a mainstay in select pass rush packages. He got the start opposite Bain and played 40 of 54 snaps against Stanford, logging four tackles and a pair of quarterback hurries. According to Pro Football Focus, Lightfoot had three total quarterback pressures against Stanford, leads the team on the season with five total quarterback hits and ranks fourth on the Hurricanes with 16 total pressures for the campaign.
“Lightfoot’s been a guy that has started on a lot of packages all year,” defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said. “I think his role is continuing to grow and get bigger. He’s a very dynamic player, a little bit different than what Mez is but I think he’s a very dynamic player.”
▪ Fellow sophomore Armondo Blount, who can play both end and inside at defensive tackle. He was on the field for 19 snaps against Stanford and had a pair of quarterback pressures as well as a sack. Blount has 13 quarterback pressures on the season, fifth on Miami’s roster behind Bain (39), Mesidor (25), defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. (17) and Lightfoot.
“He is not a young guy anymore,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said. “Mondo played great football for us.”
▪ Booker Pickett, a redshirt freshman who has played just 33 defensive snaps this season but is working his way into the rotation with his work in practice. The edge rusher played a season-high 12 snaps.
▪ And true freshman Herbert Scroggins III, who was a four-star prospect out of Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia. Like Pickett, he has had minimal playing time — just 37 defensive snaps, including 13 on Saturday against Stanford — but has a pair of quarterback hurries.
“A lot of young guys got some good playing time,” Cristobal said.
How large of a role they will continue to have moving forward will likely be contingent on Mesidor’s status. Cristobal on Monday said he anticipates Mesidor returning when No. 10 Miami (6-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) plays the SMU Mustangs (5-3, 3-1 ACC) on the road Saturday (noon, ESPN) but didn’t go so far as to guarantee a return after a one-game absence.
“We expected him last week,” Cristobal said. “We probably err on the side of optimism more times than not, but we follow directions from the medical staff and felt good about it then. Feel good about it now.”
Keionte Scott a Thorpe semifinalist
Nickel cornerback Keionte Scott on Tuesday was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive back.
Scott, a transfer from Auburn, has been a steady presence in Miami’s secondary all season. He enters this week with 34 tackles, including seven tackles for loss, to go along with one sack, five quarterback hurries, three passes broken up and one forced fumble through seven games.
“That’s a role in this defense, really everywhere I’ve kind of been, that’s been a guy that’s always had really good production,” Hetherman said of Scott’s work at nickel. “Obviously he’s a very talented football player. He can do a lot of things really well. He continues to find the football as he plays. He’s been very productive. And he makes the available play when he’s in those situationsHe’s a very smart football player. He’s got really good awareness. He understands different splits and formations and where to fit little things. He’s continuing to play better his hands, setting edges.”
The three finalists for the Thorpe Award will be announced on Nov. 25, with the winner revealed on ESPN on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
This story was originally published October 29, 2025 at 2:30 PM.
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