Mario Cristobal shares positive update on Akheem Mesidor

There has been some concern for the health of edge rusher Akheem Mesidor, as he’s missed time in Fall Camp. Given the importance of the 2023 season to head coach Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes, it’s going to be vital to have a healthy team throughout the year.

Luckily, though, Cristobal recently gave a positive health update on Mesidor.

“He’s doing good,” Mario Cristobal said. “He got nicked up in a camp kind of way, not in anything serious. He’s practiced early and practiced extremely well.”

Ultimately, Mesidor was held out of practice by the doctors as a precaution. However, Cristobal and the staff aren’t worried about his health and are happy with how he’s played when he has practiced.

“We held him out for about four or five days because that’s what the doctor felt was best. It was a rest thing, as opposed to a structural thing, and today he practiced full and he’s back to form. So, we don’t foresee any issues with Akheem.”

Akheem Mesidor was a three-star recruit in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He started his career at West Virginia before transferring to Miami ahead of the 2022 season. That was a very productive season for Mesidor. In just 11 games, he matched his career high in tackles with 38. He also set career highs in tackles for loss and sacks, with 10.5 and 7.0 respectively.

This season, Mesidor will look to repeat that performance in a new defensive system under defensive coordinator Lance Guidry. It’s a system that Mesidor is very excited about.

“I love his defense, a whole bunch of different stuff,” Mesidor said in the Spring. “I’m really, really excited for this season this year, what we’re going to do with it. Bare front, three man front, four down, I love his scheme, switch it up on a lot of people and we’ll just find different ways to attack everybody.”

Mario Cristobal addressed the team’s overall health

With Fall Camp coming to an end and the 2023 season around the corner, Mario Cristobal addressed the health of the entire team.

“Last year we had some devastating ones early. We haven’t had that, you know, knock on wood and may that not happen. But they have had a physical camp, and it’s structured that way. It’s that plan, that blueprint has stood the test of time for a long, long time and we use it and we stick to it,” Cristobal said.

“We modify when we have to, when there are some issues. But the issues that we have are more just the riggers that come with camp so overall feel like we’re in a decent spot.”