‘Relentless’ and a ‘special talent,’ Akheem Mesidor set a standard at Miami
When Akheem Mesidor decided to return to the Miami Hurricanes for one final season of college football, he had one overarching goal in mind: Prove to everybody exactly who Akheem Mesidor is.
Mesidor had shown flashes of brilliance during his five-year college career to that point — two years at West Virginia and then three more at Miami — but there were so many bumps in the road along the way as well.
Injuries to both of his feet two years ago limited him to just three games in 2023. He returned to play all 13 games in 2024 and put up good numbers, but he was out of position — playing mostly at defensive tackle out of necessity even though he thrives off the edge.
So despite the possibility of bolting for the NFL Draft, where he could have potentially been a mid- to late-round pick, Mesidor opted to come back for one more year.
Boy, has that decision paid off.
Mesidor enters No. 15 Miami’s game against the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday, his final regular-season home game at Hard Rock Stadium, with a team-leading five sacks while ranking second in tackles for loss (8.5) and fourth in total tackles (34). He has the 13th-highest grade nationally by Pro Football Focus this season among defenders with at least 400 snaps (90.5). He has won 18.7% of his pass-rush snaps against opposing offensive linemen, the 15th-best success rate among 177 players with at least 200 pass-rush snaps.
It has Mesidor rising up draft boards, but it doesn’t have him satisfied.
“I think I’ve done a decent job,” Mesidor said. “I still feel like I have a lot to prove, but that could just be me.”
That’s always been him. Mesidor has battled and persevered and committed everything he has to get to this point. He left his native Ottawa to play his senior year of high school football stateside for a better chance to get recruited. He sacrificed personal accolades for the betterment of his team. Normally quiet and reserved, he has learned how and when to use his voice to become a leader.
“He’s showing the entire world right now what he can do,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said. “He’s such a high-impact player. He has learned the value of resilience. He has battled back from injuries and come out on top and is still getting better.”
Mesidor’s 28 career sacks and 43.5 tackles for loss entering Saturday are the second-most among active players, behind only Texas’ Trey Moore (30.5 sacks, 49.5 tackles for loss).
His talents are being noticed in draft circles.
Mel Kiper Jr. has Mesidor as the No. 19 overall prospect in the draft and the No. 2 defensive end in the draft class, behind teammate and consensus projected first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr.
In his breakdown, Kiper noted that Mesidor “makes his presence felt against both the run and the pass, and he shows good bend, closing burst and power. When his initial move is thwarted, Mesidor never stops battling. He also brings some versatility, with the ability to shade inside to DT and get pressure on the interior.”
CBS Sports’ Mike Renner has Mesidor ranked No. 85 overall in the draft class, noting that he “keeps overpowering opposing offensive linemen this season. He’s had an injury-plagued career but finally looks like an NFL-caliber difference maker.”
Cristobal called him a “special talent.” First-year Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman refers to him simply as “relentless.”
But go back to his high school days, and Mesidor was having trouble simply getting noticed. He bounced around from school to school in Canada and participated in an assortment of camps in the United States to no avail.
He finally landed at Clearwater International Academy in the Tampa area for his senior year.
It didn’t take long for him to get recognized there.
“I only had him for one season, but from the minute he got there, he was a pro just in terms of his work ethic,” Jesse Chinchar, who coached Mesidor at Clearwater International and is now the head coach at St. Petersburg Catholic, told the Miami Herald. “Great kid. Kind of a magnetic personality — not crazy loud or boisterous or anything like that, but just very good energy about him. The kids loved him. And he’s obviously unbelievably athletic. I remember him being able to do a standing backflip at like 250 pounds. The kid has always been ridiculously athletic and has the work ethic to match.”
Mesidor turned that into a season in which he totaled 92 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and four forced fumbles.
But perhaps the memory that’s most ingrained in Chinchar’s mind from Mesidor’s year in Clearwater came in their 30-28 comeback victory against Bradenton Braden River. In addition to Mesidor having 10 tackles and a sack in that game, he also scored the game-winning two-point conversion on offense, barreling through a pair of linebackers on the way to the end zone, after the Knights rallied from a two-touchdown deficit.
“When you’ve got a player that’s this good,” Chinchar said, “you just find a way to get the ball and special things happen.”
It landed him at West Virginia, where he put together two strong seasons (70 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks) before transferring to Miami.
He then went through his share of ups and downs. A great 2022 season (10.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, four pass breakups in 11 games), the injury-filled 2023 season and then playing inside at defensive tackle in 2024 and still managing nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
“For us, the best part about Akheem Mesidor is Akheem is selfless. Completely unselfish,” Cristobal said. “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.”
While his physical traits stand out, Mesidor said his biggest area of growth since coming to Miami has been in his approach to leadership. He has found a balance in leading by example and with his voice. On the field, he’s dead serious; nothing fazes him. On the sideline, he’s one of the team’s biggest cheerleaders. He’s regularly trying to get extra reps after practice with defensive line coach Jason Taylor.
“He’s a set-the-standard type of guy,” Cristobal said.
Added Hetherman: “The way you watch him collapse the pocket, swarm after the football, how physical he plays up front, going through people all the time... He’s a guy that’s accepted the role, and he’s done an unbelievable job with it.”
Mesidor has also learned how to better take care of his body. Rehab and nutrition are at the forefront. His goal above all else is to be available every play.
“I’m a guy who has struggled with few nicks here and there,” Mesidor said. “I just go out there, practice as hard as I can, take the coaching and just apply it with a minimal amount of mistakes.”
He’s following that up with one final dominant campaign. With at least three games left, Mesidor has a chance to set single-season best marks across the board.
But as this chapter — this “long ride” as Mesidor calls it — nears its end, he looks back on it fondly.
“I’m extremely grateful,” Mesidor said. “I’ve really enjoyed myself this season, along with all my teammates. I know it’s truly a blessing, and I’m happy.”
This story was originally published November 15, 2025 at 9:24 AM.
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