After six seasons in college football, Akheem Mesidor is finally a pro. The Miami Hurricanes DE was selected in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. Over 65 games between the WVU Mountaineers and Hurricanes, Mesidor hit the stat sheet with 52.5 TFL’s, 35.5 sacks, four PBU’s and five forced fumbles.
Mesidor’s breakout season was his last in Coral Gables after logging 17.5 TFL’s and 12.5 sacks in a healthy season opposite 1st round pick Rueben Bain Jr. Mesidor will play an edge rushing linebacker role in Jim Harbaugh’s 3-4 defense this season.
We’re going to look at Mesidor’s night in the CFBPO National Championship Game against the Indiana Hoosiers. Mesidor finished the devastatingly close loss with two sacks and two TFL’s as well as a number of ‘off the stat sheet’ plays for DC Corey Hetherman’s defense.
Hurricanes DL Akheem Mesidor was drafted in the 1st round by the LA Chargers. LAC plans to use him as an edge rushing LB. Up against the nation's best team, the Indiana Hoosiers, Mesidor had a solid outing. He gets the OT and RB chip and spins off for a pressure @TheStateOfTheU pic.twitter.com/PCRWyTkxtF
Above– Mesidor spent most of his time vs. the Hoosiers with his hand down as a true DE. On this rep he gets the OT and RB working to him and spins off the OT for a pressure on 1st overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
Here Mesidor grabs the RT and drives him back into the play. A true power bull rush type of move from a WIDE 5 technique pic.twitter.com/DnljF8Vvyh
Above– Mesidor is in a WIDE-5 technique here and while setting the edge he pull rushes the LT back with pure power. Mesidor played well while being lighter without losing his power production in his hips.
Bend, dip, rip and meet Rueben Bain Jr. at the QB. 1st overall pick, QB Fernando Mendoza, gets sandwiched between two UM 1st rounders here. Talent on talent. pic.twitter.com/J1tiMOP7kl
Above– Bain’s elite 1a at bending around OT’s and Mesidor is just behind him at 1b. Mendoza is sandwiched between Bain and Mesidor here with both DE’s lined up very wide.
A very plus quality for Mesidor is his hand fighting. Here he chops down the OG's hands and his bend and dip is excellent as well. He pressures Mendoza into an INC pass pic.twitter.com/g0oPNelTm4
Above– Mesidor really improved his hand fighting this season. The ‘chop’ on the OG’s hands and the bend and dip around allowed him to force a Mendoza INC pass.
Slap, swim, hurdle a 300# teammate and finish at the QB. The kind of 'motor' you love to see from a pass rusher pic.twitter.com/Qn64HjONcA
Above– The ‘more than a big guy’ status was achieved on clips like this. Mesidor slaps down the hands, uses a swim move, hurdles Justin Scott and finishes at the QB. That’s motor, folks.
Rip, bend, and a near strip sack of Mendoza for Mesidor in the 2nd half of the natty. pic.twitter.com/IFT2eEqEKF
Above– Against the RT, Mesidor rips the hands, uses great bend, and nearly strip sacks Mendoza on this one. If he had come away with the ball it could’ve been a game neutralizer vs. the IU punt block and return.
Hoosiers running 'duo' and Mesidor shows how to fight a double team. Stay tough then get skinny and split it. His power is NFL ready pic.twitter.com/sbouHLKpqk
Above– IU ran “Duo” and Mesidor fights the double team beautifully. Use strength to neutralize it, get skinny, split the double. His power is NFL-ready.
Mesidor's motor and fight are what makes him special. He's completely out of this play but because he stays active he winds up involved in the sack. pic.twitter.com/ms88i8Hku0
Above– Stem, use your quick lateral step, spin, and finish involved in the sack. He’s proving his versatility working wide, tight, and inside.
More relentless effort from Mesidor, the new LA Charger. His fight gets him in a rugby tackle situation down on the ground for a double leg pic.twitter.com/heRSZ5x4kZ