West Virginia appears poised to lose one of its key defensive players.
During an unscheduled appearance with reporters Thursday, Mountaineers coach Neal Brown announced that junior defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor plans to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal. If he follows through on departing Morgantown, it would be a significant blow to a front that was shaping up to be the 2022 team’s strength.
Neal Brown (not originally scheduled to speak today), addresses Akheem Mesidor's departure from the program: pic.twitter.com/ZOeWcXLAiS
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) March 31, 2022
“Candidly, [I] was surprised,” Brown said. “I would even say very surprised.”
Indeed, late March is an odd time for moves of this nature, even since the NCAA relaxed many of its transfer restrictions amid the pandemic. That’s especially true for established players with defined roles on their original teams. When they bolt, it tends to be soon after the regular season ends in December or bowl games in early January.
Alas, Mesidor is departing about a week into the Mountaineers’ spring practice schedule. And doing so after a great sophomore season in which he recorded five sacks, 6 1/2 tackles for loss and was selected to a couple of All-Big 12 teams. He was previously set to return to a strong defensive line that also included Dante Stills (seven sacks in 2021) and Taijh Alston (five sacks).
Instead, Brown and Co. seem likely to be left wondering what could have been. And though he praised Mesidor and wished him well, it was clear the move was a tough blow to an embattled coach who’s looking to rebound from a 6-7 campaign.
“Akheem’s a great kid,” Brown said. “He’s a great player. He’s a great kid. He was excelling in the classroom and on the football field, performing at a high rate academically. I love Akheem Mesidor. Love the kid.
“I’m not angry about it. I’m not upset. I think that the best emotion that I would use — and these are words that a football coaches aren’t supposed to use — would be hurt. Or maybe just sad. I would say, personally, I hurt because of the investment, and more so just the relationship. Really close to him.”
Adam Bittner: abittner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @fugimaster24.
First Published: March 31, 2022, 5:42 p.m.
