Countdown to Canes Football: No. 5 Akheem Mesidor
One of Miami’s best 2022 players returns again this season. How many sacks? How many big plays?
Mario Cristobal and his Hurricanes are hoping for a whole bunch!
Who’s been discussed before today? Here: Full Countdown to Canes Football List
Akheem Mesidor
Size
: 6-foot-3, 280 pounds
Class
: Redshirt-Junior
Position
: Defensive End
Recruitment and Background
A 3-star coming out of Clearwater (Fla.) Clearwater Academy International, Mesidor signed with West Virginia over Georgia Tech. His recruitment did not begin in the state of Florida, however.
He hails from Canada in the city of Ottawa. Coming down to play for head coach Jesse Cinchar and the Knights, Mesidor found himself with more recruiting attention after playing for a quality program that houses numerous international players.
heading to WVU from the class of 2020, Mesidor changed scenery again and transferred to the University of Miami for the 2022 season.
2020 West Virginia Statistics
Tackles
: 32
Tackles For Loss
: 6.5
Sacks
: 5
2021 West Virginia Statistics
Tackles
: 38
Tackles For Loss
: 8
Sacks
: 4.5
2022 Miami Statistics
Tackles
: 38
Tackles For Loss
: 10.5
Sacks
: 7
Where’s Mesidor Going To Line Up At?
This first category helps define why Mesidor can consistently make big plays for the Canes. Few defensive linemen are capable of completing the following tasks over and over. Mesidor proved he could last season.
Lining up at nose guard, defensive end, outside leverage, inside leverage, etc., Mesidor is a unique defensive lineman. As a player known for being a pass rusher, that’s truly rare. Most defensive ends prefer to stay outside where there’s more room to operate.
Mesidor made multiple sacks as a nose guard! He even did it with his ability to cross the center's face, use quick hands to combat the opposition and knock his hands away, and finish off the sack right up the gut.
Seeing Mesidor line up as a pure weak side end a play or two later, that’s going to drive offensive linemen, as well as offensive coordinators, crazy. It sure appeared to be that way in 2022.
How about that performance by Akheem Mesidor?
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) October 16, 2022
8 tackles, 3.5 sacks and total dominance up front.@Akheem_Mes | #GoCanes pic.twitter.com/kUeXUJOPKS
It’s nearly impossible to prepare for players with Mesidor’s talent much of the time anyway. When he’s playing well at multiple spots, that’s a conundrum most teams will also struggle.
Creating For Other Hurricanes
Look, teams know Mesidor can be “that guy.” Thus, he’s going to draw double teams, see H-backs, tight ends and running backs chip him before going into their routes, etc. All of that opens up opportunities for other Canes to be one-on-one.
As simple as all of that is, the math favors the Canes. Football is often about math, in fact. The way these numbers play out, they will favor Miami to create even more havoc when Mesidor is on the gridiron.
One More Prime Category Mesidor Can Change Games
Mesidor gets to the quarterback quite often. Fact. Now, can he create even more sacks, and knock the football loose a few more times?
He forced a fumble in 2022. As often as Mesidor hits the opposing signal caller, that number should skyrocket in 2023. He’s more experienced, bigger, stronger, and knows the guys around him as several defensive linemen return from the 2022 unit.
Plus, Miami must come up with more big plays in 2022. As noted in several other capsules during Countdown to Canes Football, how does Mesidor perform against top competition? The game against Florida State, Clemson, Texas A&M, and so on and so forth?
Even one more big turnover could change the course of Miami’s 2023 season. One never truly knows in advance. Keep an eye on that. One more category to discuss.
Will Mesidor Be A Game-Changer During Running Downs?
Mesidor is good in this category. Game-changer? Not yet. If Mesidor reaches that next level it will allow Miami’s defense to place opposing teams in even more obvious passing downs. If there’s one thing the Miami defense certainly does well, it's applying pressure on the quarterback (2022: 37 sacks as a unit).
In 2022, Mesidor had 10.5 tackles for loss. He’s capable of pushing that number closer to 18 or even 20. Let’s see how he does against the run this fall.
2023 Projection
Anything less than All-ACC and at least honorable mention All-American should be considered under the mark. Mesidor will have a great season, however, including being Miami’s best overall pass rusher and increasing his sacks and tackle for loss totals. After that, look for Mesidor's NFL Draft status to move up to the second round range, if not higher (third round projection after last season).
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Fan Nation High school football recruiting analyst covering the state of Florida, as well as across the Southeastern United States and the state of Texas.