Canadian defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor has been named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week on Monday following a standout performance in Miami’s 20-14 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday.
The third-year sophomore from Ottawa, Ont. recorded a team-leading eight tackles and 3.5 sacks. He is just the third player in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) to record 3.5 sacks or more in a single game since the start of the 2020 season. The last member of the Hurricanes to do so was Gregory Rousseau, who was a first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The six-foot-two, 272-pound defender has made 19 total tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks, and three knockdowns through five games this season. He tied for the conference lead in sacks.
Mesidor transferred to Miami from West Virginia this past winter after two seasons with the Mountaineers. He made 70 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks over 21 games and was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2021 and All-Big 12 Second Team by the conference’s coaches.
The Hurricanes are 3-3 on the season with their next game scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22 against Duke at 12:30 p.m. EDT.
