Miami football expected to be involved with WVU defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor
The Miami Football program is expected to be involved with West Virginia transfer defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor. Mesidor took an unofficial visit to Penn State on Friday according to Chris Hummer of 247 Sports and is planning an official with USC. Auburn, Iowa State, LSU, Pittsburgh and Texas Tech have spoken to Mesidor.
Miami has added DL Mitchell Agude, Jacob Lichtenstein and Antonio Moutrie as transfers during the offseason. Agude is expected to start at defensive end, Lichtenstein adds versatility and Moultrie backup Jared Harrison-Hunte and Leonard Taylor at DT. Mesidor would give Miami another experienced edge rusher.
In two seasons at West Virginia, Mesidor had 70 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Miami added former West Virginia cornerback Darryl Porter Jr. earlier this offseason. Porter will compete to start for Miami opposite Tyrique Stevenson. Miami has made upgrading their play on both sides of the line a priority.
Mesidor wants to play DE which is a good fit for the Miami 4-3 defense. A player with the production that Mesidor has had the last two seasons to add to Agude would provide the Miami football program with a pair of proven edge rushers. The DEs who have transferred to Miami in recent seasons have had a lot of success.
"“I’d like to play defensive end and a little bit of 5-technique…So I’d like to go to a school that doesn’t have a lot of depth and is ready for me to come in and be a factor as I’m ready to come in, work hard and take my spot.I just want to be at a school that will let me rush from the 5-technique and play how I want to play and give me the freedom to just ball and play football the way I play it.”"
Mesidor spoke to Hummer and in addition to the above, told him his desire to play DE is what led him to transfer from West Virginia. Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Mesidor has received numerous honors throughout his two seasons with the Mountaineers. Mesidor was a freshman All-American in 2020 with just one start.
dark. Next. UCLA transfer Agude joins Miami because of staff NFL experience
At Miami, Mesidor would have a chance to work with former NFL players Joe Salave’a, Jason Taylor and Rod Wright. Salave’a is the interior defensive line coach for Miami, Wright the DEs coach and Taylor an analyst who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That trio should be able to help Mesidor maximize his potential.