DE Akheem Mesidor named Miami football most important transfer
The addition of 11 transfers to the Miami football program since Mario Cristobal was hired in December has helped improve the roster. As many as five transfers to Miami in 2022 could start on defense. Will Backus of 247 Sports examined the “College football transfer portal: Every Power 5 team’s most important addition.”
Backus named defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor as the most important addition to the Miami football program. Mesidor can play anywhere on the DL. Miami seems likely to start Mesidor at defensive end with the ability to also play inside. UCLA transfer DL Mitchell Agude is likely to start as the other edge rusher.
Caleb Johnson who was a teammate of Agude at UCLA and cornerback Darryl Porter Jr. who played with Mesidor at West Virginia before transferring to Miami are the other likely starters on defense who are new to the Hurricanes in 2022. Miami needed to improve its depth and talent on the DL entering the 2022 season.
Defensive tackle Darrell Jackson from Maryland, Jacob Lichtenstein from USC and Antonio Moultrie from UAB are the other three DL that joined the Miami football program as transfers during the 2022 offseason. Jackson has three seasons of eligibility remaining and could be a key part of the future for Miami on the DL.
"Miami — Akheem Mesidor, DL: New Miami coach Mario Cristobal identified defensive line as a major need for the Hurricanes and hit the portal hard, landing five transfers that can play in the trenches. The best of which is Mesidor, a former West Virginia star who had 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss last season."
Mesidor added 38 tackles to his eight TFLs and 4.5 sacks last season. Mesidor was much stronger last season in coverage and as a pass rusher than against the run. With the five additions on the DL, co-defensive coordinators Kevin Steele and Charlie Strong will have multiple options on the looks they give opposing offenses.
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Jackson is a tough player to block at 6’6 300 pounds. At 6’2, 272 pounds, Mesidor provides Miami with a lot of versatility. Coming out of high school, Mesidor was a linebacker. Agude played outside LB in the 3-4 defense at UCLA and Johnson will be transitioning to an inside LB in a 4-3 defense for Miami.