Akheem Mesidor

After a run to the College Football Playoff Championship game, the Hurricanes are primed to send several standout players to the league. Two names in particular have frequented top 10 projections as draft pundits offer opinions on offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. A third player has frequently been linked to first-round mock drafts, and according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, some in the league believe he’s better than one of those other two.

That player would be none other than Bain’s fellow pass rusher Akheem Mesidor. Mesidor began his college football journey at West Virginia, where he made a big impact on the edge as a true freshman, recording five sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. In Year 2 with the Mountaineers, the team opted to shift Mesidor inside to more of role on the interior line. Mesidor still produced, logging 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss, but opted to transfer and ended up in Coral Gables.

With Miami, Mesidor returned right back to a role on the edge, and he was impressive in doing so, leading the team with seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. In 2023, Bain arrived as a true freshman, and when Mesidor was shut down with injury, missing all but three games, Bain asserted himself as a difference maker with 7.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. The next year, it was Bain’s turn to deal with injury, and though he played in nine games, he looked like a shell of his freshman self, logging only 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss while clearly limited due to injury. Mesidor didn’t fare too much better that year, registering only 5.5 sacks with nine tackles for loss.

Bain came back healthy this past season, and the duo immediately put NFL scouts on notice as they disrupted a top Notre Dame offensive line early and often to open the year, notably sealing the Hurricanes’ Week 1 matchup by meeting at the quarterback twice in the final two plays before a Fighting Irish false start ran the final seconds off the clock. Both pass rushers would go on to enjoy the best production of their careers, shining especially bright on the biggest stage. In four CFP games against Texas A&M, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Indiana, Mesidor recorded 5.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss while Bain delivered five sacks and eight tackles for loss.

There’s certainly a case to be made for Mesidor, who hasn’t received as much love as Bain in early draft talks despite never being outshined by him on the field. Mesidor’s final 2025 figures (12.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss) did outpace Bain’s (9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss). So why isn’t he up in the top 10 with Bain? One theory might be drawn from looking at their time not playing together. When Mesidor was hurt, Bain stepped up and stood out as a true freshman. When Bain was hurt, Mesidor reverted back to his old West Virginia production despite being a fifth-year athlete.

Additionally, when they did play together, one could argue quite a bit of Mesidor’s success came as a result of the disruption or extra attention being paid to Bain on the other side. The same concept could certainly be attributed to Bain, too, but Mesidor drew fewer double teams throughout the season. That’s not to say that Mesidor can’t get it done on his own, though. Mesidor is seen as more of a pure pass rusher, with a full arsenal of attack moves and an effective plan of attack. Teams looking for the more talented pass rusher will see Mesidor as the superior talent, whereas Bain gains the edge with overall disruption.

Bain offers greater versatility along the line, though both have played both edge and interior snaps. Less reliant on an arsenal, though he still has one, Bain’s methods are violent, quick, and powerful. His ability to bring the fight to his opponent often overcomes the concerns over his shorter arm length while his incredible bend for his frame help him to evade and finish. Even without the pass rushing prowess, Bain’s 83 pressures in 2025 were the most in a season since 2014.

Both defensive ends do have flaws that draw the ire of some scouts and teams. Bain’s arms are seemingly a big concern, though it increasingly appears to be more of an issue in the media than in the actual NFL. Mesidor, after six years of college (thanks to COVID-19 and an injury redshirt), will be 25 years old when he’s drafted. Regardless, some teams will overlook these flaws and take a chance on the upside both players displayed at the college level of the game, and while some may view Mesidor as the more-talented pass rusher, Bain is currenty still in line to hear his name called a bit earlier on in the evening.