While University of Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain stole much of the thunder throughout the team's quest to the College Football National Championship this past season, teammate Akheem Mesidor proved to be quite the right-hand man to Bain in also punishing signal callers. And as a decorated pass rusher in his own right, the Philadelphia Eagles might be looking into landing the Ontario, Canada native in this April's NFL draft.
Mesidor registers at 6-foot-3, 259 pounds, reminiscent of the build of current Eagles edge Jalyx Hunt, who also relies on a blend of power and dogged pursuit to consistently crash the pocket. While his six years in college leave him on the older side than typical prospects - he's 25 years old - the former West Virginia Mountaineer turned Hurricane dominated last year, with 13.5 sacks and four forced fumbles highlighting a remarkable senior campaign.
A breakdown of the skills Mesidor brings to the table was provided by NFLDraftBuzz:
"There is a lot to like about what Mesidor puts on tape. His pass rush toolbox ranks among the deepest in this entire draft class, and the way he strings moves together without hesitation shows genuine feel for how to attack blockers. When you watch him work against quality tackles, you see a rusher who wins with technique and effort rather than just raw athleticism. That combination tends to translate well at the next level, where pure speed becomes less of a differentiator and technical proficiency matters more. The fact that he learned his craft from Jason Taylor only adds confidence that his development will continue.
Akheem Mesidor feels like a perfect fit for Eagles' defense
That last piece is big, as the impact rendered by the coaching of Jason Taylor should make Mesidor ready to make an immediate splash at the next level. With Jaelan Phillips out of the equation, edge is a red-hot topic of late. Potential draft solutions, including wrestler-turned-QB wrecker Gabe Jacas and a confirmed 30 visit with a pass-rushing dynamo from Texas Tech, offer fits in Philadelphia for fresh edge talent.
General manager Howie Roseman is well aware of the importance of a deep and dangerous edge group. Having previously acquired Phillips during the regular season, the impact was undeniable.
Read more: Eagles could target All-Big Ten edge rusher with reminders of elite sack artist
His exit leaves big cleats to fill, and Mesidor is just the latest quarterback hunter who might be hearing from Roseman this April.