After six seasons in college football, Akheem Mesidor is finally a pro. The Miami Hurricanes DE was selected in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. Over 65 games between the WVU Mountaineers and Hurricanes, Mesidor hit the stat sheet with 52.5 TFL’s, 35.5 sacks, four PBU’s and five forced fumbles.
Mesidor’s breakout season was his last in Coral Gables after logging 17.5 TFL’s and 12.5 sacks in a healthy season opposite 1st round pick Rueben Bain Jr. Mesidor will
play an edge rushing linebacker role in Jim Harbaugh’s 3-4 defense this season.
We’re going to look at Mesidor’s night in the CFBPO National Championship Game against the Indiana Hoosiers. Mesidor finished the devastatingly close loss with two sacks and two TFL’s as well as a number of ‘off the stat sheet’ plays for DC Corey Hetherman’s defense.
Above– Mesidor spent most of his time vs. the Hoosiers with his hand down as a true DE. On this rep he gets the OT and RB working to him and spins off the OT for a pressure on 1st overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
Above– Mesidor is in a WIDE-5 technique here and while setting the edge he pull rushes the LT back with pure power. Mesidor played well while being lighter without losing his power production in his hips.
Above– Bain’s elite 1a at bending around OT’s and Mesidor is just behind him at 1b. Mendoza is sandwiched between Bain and Mesidor here with both DE’s lined up very wide.
Above– Mesidor really improved his hand fighting this season. The ‘chop’ on the OG’s hands and the bend and dip around allowed him to force a Mendoza INC pass.
Above– The ‘more than a big guy’ status was achieved on clips like this. Mesidor slaps down the hands, uses a swim move, hurdles Justin Scott and finishes at the QB. That’s motor, folks.
Above– Against the RT, Mesidor rips the hands, uses great bend, and nearly strip sacks Mendoza on this one. If he had come away with the ball it could’ve been a game neutralizer vs. the IU punt block and return.
Above– IU ran “Duo” and Mesidor fights the double team beautifully. Use strength to neutralize it, get skinny, split the double. His power is NFL-ready.
Above– Stem, use your quick lateral step, spin, and finish involved in the sack. He’s proving his versatility working wide, tight, and inside.
Above– You like to see guys able to make tackles at different levels. From the knees he’s able to make a play low in a double-leg takedown scenario that looks more like rugby than football.
The Wrap
Mesidor has an injury history and was a man playing against youngin’s for Miami in 2025. After six seasons in college football you would hope he would dominate the ACC and college game. The reason I used Mesidor’s tape against Indiana is that they were an experienced team that could match age, experience and strength with him upfront. I think he acquitted himself as more than a ‘bully’ of underclassmen in the playoff, and specifically vs. Indiana.
