Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor emerges as first-round NFL Draft prospect
Miami Hurricanes defensive end Akheem Mesidor has transformed himself into a potential first-round selection for next week’s NFL Draft following a remarkable 12.5-sack final college season.
The 25-year-old completely overhauled his physical conditioning during the offseason to prepare for his ultimate gridiron transition.
To shed weight and build stamina, the Canadian prospect committed to swimming one mile on weekend mornings in an Olympic-sized pool.
Dropping 20 pounds to reach an agile 265 pounds allowed the former interior lineman to thrive upon returning to his favoured edge-rushing position.
Overcoming adversity and injuries
Earlier college campaigns were severely disrupted by nagging injuries that had previously hampered his explosive athletic potential.
However, a fully fit final season saw him dominate opposing offences, leading the Hurricanes with an outstanding 17.5 tackles for loss.
Miami defensive line coach Jason Taylor initially expressed disbelief at his star player’s gruelling aquatic regimen.
“He told me one day he was doing it, and I thought he was nuts,” Taylor said with a laugh.
“He told me, ‘I can’t go back to Canada. This is all I’ve got, so it has to work for me.'”
A long journey from Ottawa
The path to professional American football has been highly untraditional for the Ottawa native.
As a youth player in Ontario, he once walked more than two miles through a heavy snowstorm simply to attend training sessions.
His mother, Carole Richard, originally registered him for the sport at the age of eight as an outlet for his boundless energy.
While critics have highlighted his slightly advanced age ahead of the draft, his elite production alongside fellow defensive standout Rueben Bain Jr has silenced most doubters.
From struggling to find his footing on the offensive line as a child, the dynamic edge rusher now stands on the precipice of reaching the NFL.
