Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II looks to fill the void left by two first-round picks, leveraging Jason Taylor’s mentorship to cement elite status as a premier NFL prospect.
Miami, FL. – The Miami Hurricanes’ star edge-rushing duo of Akheem Mesidor and All-American Rueben Bain Jr. will go down among the most dominant in college football history. They combined for 117 total tackles, 68 solos and 49 assists, 33 tackles for loss, and 22 sacks this past season. Both wound up becoming first-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. They’re projected to deliver an immediate impact as both players go to separate organizations.
Despite the departures, the Hurricanes look to develop another edge rusher into a dominant force: Damon Wilson II. He joined the program after transferring from the Missouri Tigers. The 21-year-old logged 23 total tackles, nine solos and 14 assists, 9.5 tackles for a loss of 75 yards, nine sacks, three passes defended, and a three-yard interception, starting in all 13 games. He earned Second Team All-SEC honors.
Wilson II took an opportunity to further develop under defensive line coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor. He played a significant role in Mesidor and Bain Jr. becoming NFL first-rounders. The new edge rusher on the Coral Gables campus looks to take the same path.
The incoming senior is projected to make a jump in production, resulting in elevated draft stock. In PFF’s 2027 Big Board, Wilson II is listed as the fourth-best edge defender, with a No. 25 overall ranking.
“Wilson has big shoes to fill after transferring to Miami to take over from Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor,” PFF wrote. “There are few doubts about Wilson’s pass-rushing ability, as he tallied 54 total pressures last year. Run defense is a much bigger weakness for Wilson, however, as he must improve on his 59.5 career run-defense grade.”
The Hurricanes' scoring defense ranked No. 5 in the Football Bowl Subdivision last season. They only allowed 14.8 opposing points on average in 16 games. It’s a significant turnaround by defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman after being ranked No. 70 the previous year before arriving at the program.
The production is projected to remain the same despite numerous departures to the NFL Draft, such as cornerback Keionte Scott, safety Jakobe Thomas, linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, and defensive tackle David Blay Jr.
Wilson II looks to make the most of the fresh opportunity as he will be without any extra NCAA eligibility after next season. There will be an urgency for him to perform on a game-by-game basis and impact the Hurricanes’ success.
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