Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr., two standout defensive ends from the University of Miami, recently reflected on the influence of their position coach, Jason Taylor, during interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Both players are projected to be first-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Mesidor recounted his initial unfamiliarity with Taylor’s legacy before joining Miami. “My defensive line coach, Jason Taylor … coming into Miami, I didn’t know much about him,” Mesidor said. “Until I looked him up on YouTube.” Over four years, Mesidor credited Taylor—a Pro Football Hall of Famer and six-time Pro Bowler—for helping him develop into one of college football’s top defensive ends. Last season, Mesidor led the Hurricanes with 17.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks during their College Football Playoff run.
“Everything you saw during game day, us working with JT before the games, the stuff we did every single day from spring ball to fall camp, up through the season, it’s honestly meant the world to me,” Mesidor said. He described Taylor as a consistent presence before and after practices: “JT is with me before every practice, working on whatever I want to work on and then [again] post-practice, if I still need help. Typically, me and Rueben [Bain Jr.] would do more work post-practice, and we’d bring the young guys along. JT is always still there. … He’ll stay back and coach us and make sure we had good work.”
Bain also highlighted Taylor’s mentorship both on and off the field. Growing up in Miami, Bain was well aware of Taylor’s accomplishments over his 15-year NFL career. Bain called learning from a local legend “the opportunity of a lifetime” and spoke about how Taylor motivated him beyond football.
“Man, JT is like a second dad for me,” Bain said after earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors last season along with consensus first-team All-American recognition for his 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. “The constant motivation, the constant coaching I got… if I had to go to his house, we’d talk and chop it up. I’d be in his house, putting on his Hall of Fame jacket and ring and just envisioning [it for] myself… So for me it was constant motivation, a father figure away from home and just a wonderful opportunity.”
Taylor emphasized that while technical skills were important in his coaching approach, he wanted his players to develop professionalism above all else.
“That’s what we’d say all the time: be a pro… It’s not just about being a professional and getting paid. It’s about doing things that pros do,” Taylor said. “I’ve always treated them like pros… Pros get ripped too. It’s a mindset… We’ve always taught that, believed it, and they responded well to it.”
Both players acknowledged that this mentality shaped their preparation for football at its highest level.
“Just working with JT every day… Really the professional approach to the game—the way you prepare…the way you take care of your body—everything that helps you achieve your maximum potential on the field—JT was just tremendous to me,” Mesidor said.
NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe noted how rare it is for elite former players like Taylor to successfully transition into coaching roles where they can mentor future professionals so effectively: “So to hear Rueben talk about the long nights that they would work out together—that’s Jason pouring his time into it… I think he’s such a huge asset because players respect resume… This year is a perfect example with Akheem and Rueben—I’m not sure they’re both top 20 picks if Jason Taylor isn’t the Miami Hurricanes’ defensive line coach.”
Taylor expressed pride in both athletes’ legacies at Miami: “The play on the field obviously is evident… They’re going to show up every day… They’ll be getting pros—it’s as simple as that… Every NFL team wants consistency… That’s who those guys are.”
