Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 3 Akheem Mesidor

CaneSport is breaking down the top 50 post-spring players on the Miami roster, a list that doesn’t include any post-spring roster additions. Today we break down No. 3, Akheem Mesidor.

NO. 3 MIAMI DL AKHEEM MESIDOR

Why he’s No. 3

Mesidor missed the bulk of the spring coming off injury, but along with DT Leonard Taylor he gives Miami two of the ACC’s best returning linemen. Mesidor has the additional benefit of mainly playing end but also being able to play inside in passing situations. He has the size, relative quickness and strength to succeed wherever he is lined up along the DL. Last year Mesidor was a terror off the edge in his first season at Miami. He ended with 38 tackles and led the team with seven sacks while tying for the team lead with 10.5 TFL (and missed a game due to injury). Prior to UM he was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick in 2021 with 38 tackles, 8 TFL and 4.5 sacks playing mainly DT. And he earned True Freshman All-America First Team honors in 2020 (10 games, 1 start, 32 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 5 sacks). Mesidor’s Pro Football Focus grades bear out his high level of play – he graded out at an elite 87.1 percent last season (86.5 run defense, 75.9 tackling, 80.6 pass rush). PFF noted him with 16 QB hurries. He previously graded out at 69.4 percent in 2021 (24 QB hurries) and 71.2 percent in 2020 (7 QB hurries). He’s also graded out at 75.6 percent as a pass rusher in 2021 and 71.5 in 2020 (70 is considered a good grade). He’s an outstanding talent that opponents will need to game plan for to try and slow him down.

What he needs to do to move up this list

Well, there’s not much higher he can go on this list. But he can move up a list when it comes to PFF – he’s the No. 5 returning edge rusher based on grades at his aforementioned 87.1 percent. That’s behind Marshall’s Owen Porter (88.1), UCLA’s Laiatu Latu (88.4), Washington’s Bralen Trice (88.5) and Penn State’s Chop Robinson (90.6). Mesidor is a consistent defender with a relentless motor. NFLDraftBuzz.com notes that “his spin move is already NFL-caliber … Mesidor has the strong core and powerful hands to shed blockers, and he shows excellent instincts with the ability to quickly locate the ball.” You add it all up and his results and skills have him in line to be one of the ACC’s most fearsome defenders in 2023.

Realistic season objective

Probably the only thing that can hold Mesidor back at this point is injury, and he was banged up and missed a game last year and was limited in the spring as noted above. Mesidor also played in 396 of the team’s 786 defensive reps, or 50.4 percent. Under new coordinator Lance Guidry we anticipate the heavy rotation used by Kevin Steele will be a thing of the past. And Mesidor’s stats will likely reflect that. He’s a guy who could approach or even surpass 10 sacks on the season, and maybe 20 TFLs isn’t out of the realm of possibility either. In this attacking style defense, if it’s hitting on all cylinders, a guy like Mesidor can thrive.

The post Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 3 Akheem Mesidor appeared first on On3.