Mario Cristobal highlights critical unit matchup in Miami vs. Texas A&M

Miami versus Texas A&M is one of week 3’s marquee games, featuring two top 25 ranked schools each with years of rich history and tradition. One of the key matchups within the game will be the Aggies’ defensive line versus the Hurricanes’ offensive line, as Miami head coach Mario Cristobal talked about Texas A&M’s talent on their defensive front.

“Well in every way, they’re really really big, powerful, explosive guys with a lot of length and a lot of range,” Cristobal said. “They’re explosive and twitchy, that’s a difficult combination when guys are big and powerful.”

The Aggies do have one of the most highly recruited and menacing groups up front in the country, as Cristobal elaborated on their size across the board and their ability to get after the quarterback.

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“On the edges, you typically find in anywhere from the 225 to 250 range, and they’ve got guys that are 280, 290 that play outside as well and jump in there on third down with some of their third down pressure packages,” Cristobal said.

The Hurricanes had some trouble last week protecting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, allowing four sacks against a Southern Miss team that definitely does not have the size and talent that the Aggies will up front.

On the contrary, the Aggies are coming off of a 14-17 upset loss to unranked Appalachian State, in a game where the Mountaineers’ offensive line protected the quarterback well allowing just one sack and generating 181 yards on the ground versus the Aggies.

“But they’re really big, and physical, and stout up front, and they knock back the line of scrimmage and their defense has been really really impressive in everything we’ve seen on tape. So you know our guys are looking forward to a great opportunity and a great challenge,” Cristobal said.

This matchup can definitely be won and lost up front in the trenches, and it will be exciting to see these two powerhouse programs square off for the first time since 2008.

Mario Cristobal provides injury update on Ahkeem Mesidor ahead of Texas A&M matchup

The Miami Hurricanes and Mario Cristobal will be getting some reinforcements back against Texas A&M, as its looking more and more like defensive lineman Ahkeem Mesidor will return to the field this weekend. 

“He looks good. Looked good today,” stated Cristobal, speaking with the media on Thursday. “We expect a full speed player on Saturday.”

The Miami leader searched far and wide for pass rushers this offseason, dipping into the transfer portal. As a result, Mesidor took his talents to South Beach, formerly a defensive tackle at West Virginia.

Unfortunately, Mesidor suffered a minor injury in practice last week that forced him to miss last Saturday’s victory over Southern Mississippi, following a promising start to his time with Miami. With a new week ahead, it looks like Mesidor will be on the field, recovered from his injury.

Playing inside last year, Mesidor was able to record 38 tackles and eight tackles for a loss. In the pass rush, the freshly-minted Miami product sacked the quarterback 4.5 times and forced four hurries. Mesidor is listed at 6-3, 280 pounds on the official roster, but Cristobal still thinks he can play outside with that frame.

“He’s made a big-time impression,” Cristobal said, earlier this summer. “His presence was felt. I think we all knew he was physical and explosive. Didn’t know how versatile he was. He plays inside, he plays outside. Really good in terms of the use of his hands, setting edges, being able to counter. 

“Very few guys are able to get stuck and come out of it with a good counter move and then have a counter after that. He has that. He can bend, very smart, very competitive, and he’s got an edge to him as well. We want guys that play with an edge, it’s very important. Especially where he plays.”

In Miami’s opening contest against Bethune, Ahkeem Mesidor accumulated four tackles and one sack. As the Hurricanes prepare for a huge showdown with an angry Texas A&M squad on Saturday, they’ll be happy to have their defensive lineman in the mix against the Aggies.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh and Stephen Samra contributed to this article.