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Akheem Mesidor Helping Power Miami’s Defense Alongside Rueben Bain

On3 imageby: Matt Shodell10/16/25canesport
akheem mesidor fsu
Credit: Robert Myers-Imagn Images

Miami DE Rueben Bain is grabbing a lot of headlines with his outstanding start to the season, earning some Heisman Trophy talk, but not to be forgotten is the outstanding play on the other side of the line that’s come from Akheem Mesidor.

Mesidor has mainly played end but also worked inside at times, and he’s third on the team with 23 tackles, five for losses and a team-high 3.5 sacks. In a recent list of top NFL Draft prospects from Mel Kiper, it’s Bain as the top end prospect with Mesidor No. 3 in the nation. Bain leads Miami with 26 tackles and has 3.5 TFL, two sacks, an interception and forced fumble. The dynamic duo has an incredible 53 combined QB pressures already (29 for Bain, 24 for Mesidor) per Pro Football Focus, and both are grading out at a ridiculous 90+ percent per PFF (90.8 grade for Mesidor, nation-best DE grade of 95.2 for Bain).

Mesidor has talked about how the two push each other with trash talk on who can get more tackles for loss in a game and the like. He also did his share of talking this week on the Gramlich & Mac Lain Show, with Miami’s game vs. Louisville coming up fast on Friday night.

“I’m doing a lot better than I did last year, am in a really good spot,” Mesidor said. “But I’ll never feel I’m at my best. There’s always something to get better at.”

With Mesidor sometimes shifting inside, he can line up next to Bain at times. And that’s a load for opponents to handle.

“When people see 3 (Mesidor) and 4 (Bain) on the same side, they get ready for it,” Mesidor said. “I know if we are on the same side it’s going to be very, very difficult to block us. But it’s not even about us. It frees up the guys on the other side. It gives other guys opportunities for one-on-ones to win.”

Mesidor said during the bye week that “the biggest thing for the guys that got a lot of reps was to get our bodies back (healthy), and also for the young guys to be able to step up and prove themselves.”

Mesidor said he feels Miami’s OL prepares the defensive front as the best line group in the nation. And he says the bye “was needed” for him because of how many reps he played vs. FSU (76).

“This next run (of games) is going to be pretty hectic,” he says.

Mesidor also said the emphasis during the bye was on “The U, for us to get better every day.”

Listening to the outside noise with Miami undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the nation? That doesn’t enter the equation.

“The more attention we get, the more coach (Mario) Cristobal becomes a monster (keeping the team focused on the task at hand) – it’s amazing to see and be a part of,” Mesidor said.

Mesidor also praised Cristobal, saying “He has the same approach every day.”

Mesidor’s take on coordinator Corey Hetherman?

“He brings this approach of violence with everything you do – communication, running onto the field, hands, feet, writing notes, violent notes!” Mesidor said. “He brings that approach with everything you do, and you can see that when we play.”

Mesidor also says heading into the Louisville game that he’s “really excited knowing they’ll throw the ball a lot. But I also have to expect a lot of double teams, chips. I have to be one step ahead. I just have to play football.”

He adds, “This is my last year, so it means everything. This is my last opportunity to get everything out of college football. It means a lot to a lot of guys in this building, and that makes me excited.”

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