Skip to main content
Miami

Miami Hurricanes LB Wesley Bissainthe: “We’re Focused on Building Our Identity” ... sees Mohamed Toure ready "to step up bigtime"

On3 imageby: Matt Shodell07/22/25canesport
Wesley Bissainthe WF
(Neil Gershman-Zooba Images)

Miami LB Wesley Bissainthe is entering his third year as the starter, and he’s looking for this to be a true breakout year not just for himself, but this team. He sees an improved defense, an offense that’s lost talent but added key pieces, and has high hopes for 2025.

“We have a lot of weapons, a lot of key pieces (on defense),” Bissainthe said. “I feel we will go out and make plays and do what we do best, play football, baby.”

Bissainthe is one of just four returning starters on a defense that struggled last year (along with DL Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor plus CB OJ Frederique), and it’s an almost all-new defensive staff with Jason Taylor the lone holdover. There’s a new system being installed by coordinator hire Corey Hetherman.

Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal Confident in Carson Beck, team progress as Fall Camp Nears … Can Carson Beck Bounce Back? Miami Hurricanes Season Hinges on His Arm and Leadership … “I’m feeling really good” … Miami Hurricanes OL Francis Mauigoa Vows to Protect Carson Beck: `I’m Not Letting Anyone Touch Him’ … Akheem Mesidor Confident in Revamped Miami Hurricanes Defense: “We Can Be Special”

“I’ve had three different defensive coordinators,” Bissainthe said on 560 AM at ACC Media Day. “It’s about getting in your playbook, knowing your job and getting out there and executing.”

With top tackler Francisco Mauigoa gone, the hope is that Bissainthe can blend with portal arrivals Mohamed Toure (Rutgers) and Kamal Bonner (NC State) to make this an outstanding LB corps. Others with less experience like Bobby Pruitt and Raul Aguirre also hope to have a say in things.

Toure in particular can be an answer at MLB after he had 92 tackles two years ago (but missed last year with a torn ACL).

“I feel in my group we have Mohamed Toure, he’s going to step up bigtime,” Bissainthe said. “Kamal is going to step up, came in from NC State. And Popo Aguirre can come in and play.”

Bissainthe played OLB previously and worked at MLB and outside in the spring. He’s bulked up and kept his quickness.

Bissainthe has said that under Hetherman he feels the linebacker position “is more free, more fast.”

As mentioned earlier, Bissainthe hasn’t had that true breakout season yet. But perhaps 2025 will be it. After all, he’s entering Year 3 starting, and he’s been good enough to this point – in 2023 as a sophomore he had 44 tackles, 6.5 for losses with two sacks, then last year was second on the team with 59 tackles along with five TFL, two sacks and an interception.

His Pro Football Focus Grades? In 631 reps last year he had a solid 78.1 grade, 77.3 run defense grade, 76.9 tackle grade, 60.7 pass rush grade and 82.7 cover grade. He was noted with seven missed tackles and allowed 26 of 36 completions when targeted, for 164 yards and three TDs.

The Canes need him to make a jump up in 2025 considering that Mauigoa is gone.

A final thought from Bissainthe?

That’s on the goals for this team.

“Fall camp we’re focused on trying to build our team’s identity,” he said. “The Notre Dame (opening) game will come eventually, but we have to find ourselves and what we’re good at. Can’t wait. Last season is in the past. We’re looking forward to winning. We’re not looking to the past, are looking forward to 2025.”

You may also like