Miami Lands Game-Changer in Damon Wilson II Ahead of Showdown with Notre Dame
Circle November 7 on your calendar - because Notre Dame vs. Miami just got even more interesting. The Hurricanes, already building toward another championship run, just added a major piece to their defensive puzzle: former Missouri edge rusher Damon Wilson II.
Wilson, a second-team All-SEC selection in 2025, is one of the most coveted names in the transfer portal this offseason - ranked No. 9 overall by ESPN - and now he’s heading to Coral Gables. At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Wilson brings size, speed, and serious production to a Miami front seven that’s looking to reload after losing some serious firepower.
In his lone season with Missouri, Wilson put together the kind of stat line that jumps off the page: 23 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks across 13 games. That sack total ranked third in the SEC, and his 54 quarterback pressures - per Pro Football Focus - put him among the most disruptive pass rushers in the country. Bottom line: he’s not just getting to the quarterback - he’s living in the backfield.
And that’s exactly what Miami needs.
The Hurricanes are coming off a national runner-up finish, and while the offense is expected to be led by former Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, the defense is undergoing some key changes - especially up front. Gone are Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain, the dynamic duo that terrorized opposing quarterbacks all season.
Together, they racked up over 110 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 22 sacks in 2025. Mesidor alone tied for third nationally with 12.5 sacks.
That kind of production doesn’t grow on trees - but Wilson is the kind of player who can step in and help fill that void.
This move also adds more fuel to one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2026 season. When Miami and Notre Dame meet in early November, there could be a College Football Playoff berth hanging in the balance.
These are two of the most physical, talented teams in the country, and they’ve both been knocking on the door of a national title. Now, the Hurricanes will bring a new weapon to the table - one that the Irish are already preparing for.
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr knows all too well what Miami’s pass rush can do. In last season’s opener, he was sacked three times by the Hurricanes’ aggressive front. With Wilson now in the mix, that pressure might only intensify.
For Miami, this is more than just a splashy transfer - it’s a strategic move to stay in the national title conversation. For Notre Dame, it’s another challenge in what’s shaping up to be a season-defining clash.
One thing’s for sure: the stakes are high, and the trenches will be where this battle is won or lost. And with Damon Wilson II now wearing orange and green, Miami just got a whole lot tougher to block.