The Miami Hurricanes didn’t just build a defense this season - they built a wall. A fast, physical, relentless wall that’s anchored by two of the most disruptive edge rushers in college football: Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. And if you haven’t been paying attention, now’s the time to start.
Let’s start with Bain. The stat sheet might not jump off the page - 4.5 sacks, 19 solo tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble - but anyone who’s watched Miami this season knows those numbers don’t tell the full story.
Bain has been a game-wrecker. He’s the kind of player who forces offensive coordinators to rewrite their game plans midweek and keeps quarterbacks up at night.
Whether he’s blowing up a run play in the backfield or collapsing the pocket with a nasty counter move, Bain is the heartbeat of a Hurricanes defense that’s allowed fewer than two touchdowns per game all year.
And his head coach, Mario Cristobal, knows exactly what he has in Bain - a future first-round pick who does it all. “You try to run the ball at him, he’s going to defeat blocks.
You try to run away from him, he’s going to chase you down,” Cristobal said. “You try to double-team him?
You better be sure, because you’re freeing someone else up. And if you single block him?
Good luck.”
But Bain isn’t doing it alone. Across from him, Akheem Mesidor has been just as dominant - and just as highly regarded.
Cristobal didn’t hesitate to put him in the same breath as Bain when talking about the best defensive player in the country. “I would put them battling for it,” he said.
That’s not coach-speak. That’s a coach who knows he has two NFL-caliber edge rushers terrorizing offenses every Saturday.
Both Bain and Mesidor are projected as the top two defensive edge prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft, according to Mel Kiper Jr.’s board. That’s not just hype - it’s recognition of what they’ve done on the field and what they bring to the next level.
Bain, in particular, is already drawing buzz as a potential No. 1 overall pick. He’s got the size, the motor, the technique, and the leadership - all the tools NFL teams covet in a franchise defensive cornerstone.
What makes this duo so dangerous isn’t just the individual talent - it’s the way they complement each other. You can’t double-team both of them.
You can’t run away from both of them. And when one makes a play, the other is usually right behind him waiting to clean it up.
That’s why Miami’s defense has been so stingy this season. They’re not just fast and physical - they’re smart, disciplined, and relentless.
Cristobal’s vision for a dominant, championship-level defense is coming to life. And it’s built around two edge rushers who don’t just make plays - they change games.
If you’re looking for the best pass-rushing tandem in college football, look no further than Coral Gables. Bain and Mesidor are the real deal - and they’re just getting started.