Miami lost two first-round edge rushers to the NFL, but the Hurricanes already have a new name being viewed among the best at the position nationally.
Rueben Bain Jr. went No. 15 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2026 NFL Draft. Akheem Mesidor went No. 22 overall to the Los Angeles Chargers. Losing one first-round edge defender is difficult. Losing two in the same draft calls for an elite player to be added in the transfer portal.
Damon Wilson II, the former Missouri and Georgia pass rusher who transferred to Miami this offseason, looks to fill the void. He was also ranked No. 8 on Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman's list of the top 10 edge defenders in college football.
Our top 10 returning EDGE defenders in college football 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/tXTqs3I2U1
— Preferred Walk-On (@Preferred_WO) May 29, 2026
Damon Wilson lands among college football's best edge rushers
The top 10 starts with Texas star Colin Simmons at No. 1, followed by Louisville's Clev Lubin, South Carolina's Dylan Stewart, Michigan's John Henry Daley, Oregon's Teitum Tuioti, Oregon's Matayo Uiagalelei and Clemson's Will Heldt.
Wilson checks in at No. 8, ahead of Ole Miss' Suntarine Perkins and LSU's Princewill Umanmielen.
He entered his college career at Georgia as a five-star recruit, played well in a limited role with the Bulldogs, then proved he could be a featured SEC pass rusher after moving to Missouri.
Wilson started all 13 games for Missouri in 2025 and finished with 23 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and one interception.
Ahmad Moten is returning to Miami as well. The combination of Wilson and Moten on the defensive line could help the Canes get back to the College Football Playoff.
Moten started all 14 games last season and finished with 31 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries. That level of production earned him second-team All-ACC honors.
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