Miami's Wesley Bissainthe Battles for Starting Spot, Helping Early Enrollees
After a self-described “rough” 2022 campaign, Miami Hurricanes linebacker Wesley Bissainthe is ready to help his hometown team get back on track this upcoming season.
“It feels good to have another opportunity, another chance to get it right,” he said.
While the Miami Hurricanes slogged their way to a disappointing 5-7 mark last year, Bissainthe consistently improved during his freshman season. He recorded 10 tackles in his first eight games before doubling that mark in Miami’s next two matchups against Florida State and Georgia Tech. Bissainthe started the last three games of the year, which allowed him to register a season-high eight tackles against Clemson.
Bissainthe finished the season with 30 total tackles, the most by a Miami freshman in 2022. He shared what he learned last year during the Hurricanes’ first spring practice on March 4.
“The biggest thing is be patient with yourself,” Bissainthe said. “It’s going to come. Just take your time with it, and it’s going to all fall into place.”
That is a keen insight for a player who enjoyed instant success at Miami Central, where he was a part of a Rockets program that began its streak of state titles from 2019-2021. Bissainthe earned first-team All-Dade honors, recording 45 tackles and seven sacks as a junior.
The four-star prospect, ranked No. 188 nationally in the 247Sports Composite, soon had big-time programs knocking at his doorstep, including Alabama, Florida State and Penn State. Bissainthe turned them all down and stayed local with The U.
Now, he is preparing for a breakout sophomore season under new defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, who Bissainthe thinks “Is an awesome guy.”
“We love [Guidry’s] defense, so we are just looking forward to executing and making plays,” he said.
Bissainthe’s acceleration and aggressiveness have never been questioned, but the 6-1, 205-pound linebacker is often knocked for his size. That is, until now. Bissainthe said he was up to 215 during spring practice and is looking to hit 225 by the beginning of the season.
Bissainthe is also working on his versatility, getting reps as both a middle and outside linebacker. He's was working hard to make that happen even before spring ball began, as Bissainthe's Twitter page denoted:
“Right now I’m learning two positions, so I’m just trying to have a balance on both of them, so when coach needs me at one position, I can be able to execute and make plays at it.”
Bissainthe is a front-runner to start this season, with Corey Flagg and Washington State transfer Francisco Mauigoa battling for the other spot. Some other notable linebackers and edge defenders to note include freshman Rueben Bain —who played with Bissainthe at Miami Central – fifth-year senior Keontra Smith, plus freshmen Bobby Washington and Malik Bryant. The freshmen early enrollees have been communicating with Bissainthe to get better.
“Bobby and Malik, those are my guys already,” he said. “I’m spending every day with them. They ask me a question, I help them out.”
As a whole, Bissainthe says the Hurricanes are more of a “brotherhood” this season, which he hopes will lead to on-field success.
“This year, the focus is more on each other, just the players coming together [and] uniting so we can all play as one when we go on the field,” he said.
If the Hurricanes can do that, Miami has a real chance to get it right in 2023, much to Bissainthe’s delight.
AllHurricanes.com is your home for all things Miami Hurricanes football, recruiting, basketball and other athletics, all the time. Follow along on social media at @AllHurricanes on Twitter and All Hurricanes on Facebook for round-the-clock news and analysis.
