Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor are projected to be the eighth and ninth defensive ends/edge rushers in the history of the Miami football program to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. The NFL Mock Draft Database projects Bain ninth overall and Mesidor 21st on Thursday night.
Gene Trosch was selected 24th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1967 NFL Draft as the first DE taken from Miami. Trosch played 12 professional seasons for Kansas City, the Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, and the Birmingham Americans of the World Football League.
Eddie Edwards is the highest-drafted DE in Miami history, as the third pick by Cincinnati in 1977. Edwards played in 170 games with 158 starts from 1977 through 1988, all with Cincinnati. Edwards had 84.5 sacks, 17 fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and one interception during his career.
Bill Hawkins was the next Miami DE selected in the first round when he was chosen 21st overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 1989. Injuries limited Hawkins to 42 games and eight starts in his NFL career. Hawkins had five sacks, two forced fumbles and two sacks in four NFL seasons.
Entering the 1990s
Kenard Lang was the 17th pick in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft by Washington. Lang played in 153 games with 117 starts over 10 NFL seasons with Washington, the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos. Lang had 453 tackles, 72 tackles for loss, 50 sacks, 28 passes defended, 16 FFs and seven FRs.
Kenny Holmes went one pick after Lang, 18th overall, to the then-Tennessee Oilers in 1997. Holmes played in 98 games with starts over his seven-year NFL career. Holmes finished with 203 tackles, 42.0 TFLs, 28.0 sacks, 11.0 FFs, 9.0 FRs and two interceptions with Tennessee and the New York Giants.
The Philadelphia Eagles traded up 15 spots to select Jerome McDougle 15th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. McDougle was on the Philadelphia roster from 2003 through 2007, missing the 2005 and his final season with injuries. The New York Giants signed McDougle in 2008, where he spent his final NFL season.
Akheem Mesidor: 94.2 pass rush grade in true pass sets (2nd in CFB) pic.twitter.com/OeIDh4AANL
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 16, 2026
Jaelan Phillips was the next Miami edge rusher to be selected in the first round, 18th overall in 2021. Phillips spent his entire career with Miami until being traded to Philadelphia during the 2025 trade deadline. Appearing in 63 games over five NFL seasons, Phillips has made 46 starts.
Phillips has 205 career tackles, 32.0 TFLs, 28.0 sacks, 68 quarterback hits, 11.0 PDs, five FRs, two FFs and one interception. In his short NFL career, Phillips has been a versatile player as a defensive lineman and linebacker.
Greg Rousseau is the most recent Miami edge rusher to be selected in the first round by the Buffalo Bills in 2021. Rousseau has started all 78 games in his NFL career, recording 228 tackles, 89.0 QBHs, 52.0 TFLs, 32.0 sacks, seven FFs, two FRs and one interception.
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