After lost 2023, Hurricanes’ Mesidor is ‘hungry’ to contribute and making a statement in camp

Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor went through a full range of emotions as he worked his way back from torn ligaments on the bottom of both feet that required surgery and limited him to just three games last season.

Early on, there was sadness and then anger — both natural after seeing a potential breakout year get cut short.

And then, he found a way to be optimistic amid a bad situation.

“I just started to basically become another coach on the field,” Mesidor said Wednesday, “but it just made me hungry seeing guys like Rueben Bain eat. I want to be right there beside him eating as well. Seeing my guys ball out, seeing all the new talent we’ve got in the room, it just keeps driving me to be better.”

It’s showing.

After being limited during spring practice while waiting for special cleats to better suit his feet , Mesidor has been touted by teammates and coaches alike as one of the top standouts throughout the first half of practices ahead of Miami’s Aug. 31 season opener against the Florida Gators.

“He’s having as good a camp of anybody in any position in our program,” offensive line coach Alex Mirabal said, adding “as an offensive lineman, you better come ready to block him because if not, that joker is gonna embarrass you.”

“Mesidor is the leader of the pack,” added defensive lineman Anthony Campbell.

Mesidor’s return is a boost to an already deep defensive line. He led the Hurricanes with seven sacks and tied for the team lead with 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022, his first season at Miami after transferring in from Virginia Tech.

At 6-3 and 280 pounds, Mesidor has the ability to play both on the edge and in the interior of the defensive line, giving the Hurricanes options when they rotate players.

“I just want to be put in position to make plays,” Mesidor said. “If the team needs me outside on the edge, I’ll be on the edge. If they need me inside at three tech, I’ll be in three tech. Even if they need me to drop back in coverage, I’ll do it all. I practice everything. I’m training myself to do everything. I know all the plays from all four positions, so any position I get put in, I’m prepared to just play to the best of my capability.”

Watch list roundup

Watch list season has just about wrapped up and 11 Hurricanes players found themselves getting recognition ahead of the 2024 season. Here’s a full roundup of who landed on which watch lists.

▪ Defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. : Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year)

▪ Kicker Andres Borregales : Lou Groza Award (best kicker)

▪ Wide receiver Sam Brown : Biletnikoff Award (best wide receiver)

▪ Wide receiver Jacolby George : Biletnikoff Award

▪ Defensive back Jaden Harris : Wuerffel Trophy (community service, academics and athletics)

▪ Running back Damien Martinez : Maxwell Award (player of the year), Doak Walker Award (best running back)

▪ Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa : Bednarik Award, Butkus Award (best linebacker), Nagurski Trophy (defensive player of the year)

▪ Wide receiver Xavier Restrepo : Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award

▪ Offensive lineman Jalen Rivers : Outland Trophy (best lineman)

▪ Quarterback Cam Ward : Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien Award (best quarterback), Johnny United Golden Arm Award

▪ Quarterback Emory Williams : Comeback Player of the Year Award

He said it

“Obviously, there’s only going to be one running back on the field at a time, but we really don’t focus on competing against each other; we’re just feeding off each other’s energy when we are in practice, just hyping each other up so we can do our job. We don’t want to have a drop off in the game. If someone goes down, next man up. That’s the mentality. You don’t have [any] drop off in the room.” — Damien Martinez on the competition in the running back room