As Miami replaces stars, Damon Wilson II aims to lead defense’s ‘full assault’
Damon Wilson II knows the room he’s walking into. He knows who he’s replacing. He knows the expectations that are about to be thrust upon him.
But Wilson and the Miami Hurricanes also know Wilson has the potential to be exactly what this team needs as it attempts to build on last season’s run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Gone are Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, Miami’s one-two edge rushing punch that were at the forefront of the Hurricanes’ defensive success under defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman and went on to be first-round picks. There are big shoes to fill.
Wilson, who stood out at Missouri last season after starting his college career at Georgia before transferring to Miami, knows he can handle what’s about to be thrown his way as Miami looks to contend for a national championship again.
He’s facing those expectations head on.
“You see they’re trending the right direction,” Wilson said Monday of the Hurricanes’ potential ahead of the team’s first fall practice on Tuesday, which will start their month-long preparation for their season opener on Sept. 4 against Stanford. “You have a great lineup over here, a lot of good guys to play with. It’s going to be a full assault to the quarterback.”
That’s Wilson’s specialty.
Wilson was second-team All-Southeastern Conference at Missouri last year after recording nine sacks (tied for third in the SEC and tied for 20th nationally). Pro Football Focus credited him with 54 quarterback pressures, which tied for 13th nationally.
It was the breakout year Wilson was waiting for. He had two lackluster years at Georgia (26 total tackles, six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries across 26 games) following a dominant prep career at Venice High on Florida’s west coast — one that led to him being a five-star recruit and the No. 21 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports composite ranking.
He has been around football all his life. His dad, Damon Wilson Sr., played running back at East Carolina in the early 90s. Wilson II, who started playing football when he was 5, thought he would follow in his dad’s footsteps and play running back — “I thought I was going to be the next Adrian Peterson,” he said — until he experienced a growth spurt early on.
“I got to be 6-4, and I was like, ‘I like my kneecaps,’” Wilson said.
He then started to idolize Von Miller, who finished his 14-year NFL career with 138.5 sacks and 177 tackles for loss.
“That was the premier guy growing up,” Wilson said.
Wilson hopes that in time he will be able to make an impact like that in his career.
The Hurricanes hope his performance at Missouri is just the tipping point of what Wilson can provide a team.
“He is who you see on film,” Hurricanes defensive line coach Jason Taylor said. “Very athletic, very strong kid. Comes from a good high school program that he’s had a head start on the weight room all of his life. The guy loves ball. He makes a lot of plays. He’s all the things that you see on film. He is as advertised, and he’s gonna fit in here very, very well. We could do a lot of stuff with a guy like that.”
And Wilson wants to be that player they can rely on. He knows he can rush the passer with ease. He has worked on his hand placement and his ability to finish plays. He wants to be more direct when he attacks offensive linemen instead of being forced to go wide.
“He’s just relentless,” defensive tackle Justin Scott said. “He always finds a way to impact the play. Somehow, some way, he gets to the ball.”
Added fellow defensive lineman Ahmad Moten Sr. “Damon’s gonna get to the quarterback no matter what. He’s just gonna find a way. He’s gonna rush. We’re gonna rush our asses off, too.”
And Wilson understands that it’s not a one-man job on the defensive line. He’s going to feed off his fellow linemen. Moten and Scott will be a force on the interior. Joining Wilson on the edge will be juniors Armondo Blount and Marquise Lightfoot.
“We’ve got a bunch of goon dogs over here who are gonna hunt,” Wilson said. “I just know that collectively, if we all come together and put our best day forward, nobody in the country can stop us.”
This story was originally published August 3, 2026 at 4:10 PM with the headline "As Miami replaces stars, Damon Wilson II aims to lead defense’s ‘full assault’."
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