Miami DE Akheem Mesidor drafted in 1st round by Chargers

Akheem Mesidor was one of Mario Cristobal's first recruits. The defensive end transferred from West Virginia to Miami before the 2022 season, Cristobal's first at UM.

Mesidor quickly became a key part of the Hurricanes' defense, and he turned his success at UM into an NFL career. The veteran defensive end was taken by the Los Angeles Chargers with the No. 22 pick in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday.

Earlier in the first round, former Hurricanes offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa was picked at No. 10 by the New York Giants and Rueben Bain Jr. was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15.

"Back to work," Mesidor said at UM's Pro Day in March. "The work never stops, man, from now until draft day. I'll still be working my butt off after my name gets called. Work my butt off even more and earn the right to play in the league.

Mesidor, an Ottawa, Canada, native, started his college career with the Mountaineers. In two seasons, he had 70 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.

After transferring to Miami, he continued his strong play. In his first year with the Hurricanes, he racked up 38 tackles with a team-leading seven sacks. He also tied for the team lead with 10.5 tackles for loss. Mesidor was named an All-ACC honorable mention in 2022.

Injuries derailed Mesidor's 2023 season, and he played only three games. When he returned in 2024, he primarily played defensive tackle, which is not his strongest position. Despite playing out of position, he notched 32 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five sacks.

Mesidor's final season at Miami was his best. He moved back to defensive end and teamed with Bain to form one of the top defensive duos in the nation. Mesidor helped the Hurricanes reach the national title game for the first time since the 2002 season, setting career highs in tackles (62), tackles for loss (17.5) and sacks (12.5). He led the team in the latter two categories.

Mesidor was picked for the All-ACC first team, and the Sporting News picked him as a second-team All-American. The defensive end finished his college career ranked fourth in Miami program history with 25.5 sacks. He was a key part of the Hurricanes' run to the national title game in his final season.

"It meant the world," Mesidor said. "I had to step out of my comfort zone, and I had to be a leader of the team. I'm not a guy that likes to talk a lot. I don't want to be up front, everybody looking at me. I like to work. If anybody has questions, come ask me. If I have something to say, I'll say it."

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 11:07 PM.