Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Countdown to Canes Football: No. 10 Wesley Bissainthe
A position that needs more players to step up for the Miami Hurricanes would be linebacker. A young Miami player has a chance to change that situation.
Who’s been discussed before today? Full Countdown to Canes Football List
Wesley Bissainthe
Size: 6-foot-1, 205 pounds
Class: Sophomore
Position: Linebacker
Recruitment and Background
Bissainthe’s recruitment is unique because his three in-state official visits to Florida State, Florida and Miami only began his journey. Many recruits look at those three and decide, but this young man is quite thorough. West Virginia and Penn State also received official visits, and the Miami (Fla.) Central star took his time to decide. In the end, the Canes won out for the local star prospect. The 4-star recruit is one of the top players from Miami’s 2022 list of signees.
Personal Note
Seeing Bissainthe’s workout, firsthand, during his prep days, he has an “it factor” that cannot be completely placed into words. No matter the path that needs to be taken, Bissainthe figures it out. It’s uncanny and commendable at the same time.
He’s someone any given human being can quickly gravitate towards. That’s unusual in today’s me-first society, and quite frankly one of Bissainthe’s best attributes. So let’s talk more about this young man’s mentality.
Bissainthe, the Person
Before digging into Bissainthe’s physical attributes, it’s necessary to talk about how he operates in general. It’s paramount to the sophomore’s success.
Many linebackers possess outgoing personalities, loud and direct. Bissainthe is more low key and looks into something before just spouting off at the mouth. Cerebral and conscious of his surroundings, he has the makings of a future Miami team captain.
The demeanor and attitude are prevalent with how he operates day to day. Those overall qualities will serve him well on the gridiron and in life. His physical tools match his mental capacity as well.
Raw Talent
Cannot teach Bissainthe’s speed, change of direction skills, nor his ability to generate power through contact. He’s a uniquely gifted young football player and has not even made it to a point where’s close to a finished product; imagine Bissainthe once he’s 225 pounds!
Above all else, it’s the speed. When Miami’s #31 plants his foot in the ground and it’s go-time, few college football linebackers can match his acceleration and/or top-end speed. That point certainly helps with the next category.
Pass Coverage
The way Bissainthe gains depth in his pass drops, makes quick movements to adjust to where opposing players are attempting to find holes in the zone, it’s much more like a safety than a linebacker. That’s why Bissainthe is easily definable as a modern linebacker.
Any linebacker that cannot play in space and make quick and decisive adjustments, those linebackers tend to be exposed in the passing game. Bissainthe, meanwhile, can take away routes that other linebackers cannot.
Expect this young man to gain a few interceptions this season while quarterbacks find out firsthand just how explosive and intelligent he is. Yes, Bissainthe’s intelligence will certainly lend itself to helping him make plays on the football – arguably just as much as his natural physical tools will – and help change games in favor of Miami.
Versatility
Bissainthe can play weak side linebacker or on the strong side. Really does not matter. He’s a physical player so his size is not that big of a deal either. That leads to the following important scenario that’s difficult for most defenses to adjust to, but Bissainthe gives the Canes an edge.
He’s able to help Miami adjust to packages and formations that, percentage-wise, would lead one to believe a run or pass is coming. Packages like two tight ends mean run, traditionally speaking. Same with four wide receivers generally meaning it’s a pass. Well, teams nowadays go out of their way to offset those tendencies with a variety of play calls that go against the grain.
Bissainthe’s smarts will help him adjust on the fly, and his athleticism will also lead him to making big stops for the Canes. One more point for this area.
Bissainthe can line up over a slot receiver or stay in the box; he’s adept in playing multiple roles regardless of how the opposition lines up play to play. That’s huge for defensive alignments and not being caught off guard. That alone makes Bissainthe a valuable commodity.
Big Games Require Big-Time Players
For the Hurricanes to be recognized as one of college football’s best programs, they must start consistently winning against ranked opponents. One of the reasons that The U will be able to compete against higher ranked teams will be Bissainthe. He’s the type of personality that will not only create big plays himself, but he’ll also help make players better around him.
Alignments, checks, tendencies, and just flat out communication, all of those areas will be part of how Bissainthe helps to lead the Miami defense. Sure, his natural talent – and his speed in particular – stand out.
Again though, it’s what’s between his ears that will often dictate how he makes plays for not only himself but also injecting an opportunity for other Canes to make plays as well. There’s one other area where it’s going to be interesting to see how Bissainthe adapts and reacts.
Playing Against Power Football
Miami is coming off a season in which it gave up 142.1 yards per contest, and that also includes giving up 200 or more rushing yards during four of the final six contests. That has to change and much of the responsibility falls on the linebackers, Bissainthe included.
Bissainthe certainly enjoys contact. That’s not in question. Taking on 300-plus-pound offensive linemen, over and over, that’s still not going to be his best attribute. To that point, it’s also why it's interesting to see how much he’s learned from the Miami defensive coaching staff and linebackers coach Derek Nicholson. For instance, what's he gaining from them teaching him about hand placement, angles to the point of attack, etc.
If Bissainthe can consistently take on these types of players and quickly get off blocks, the Hurricanes will see a significant improvement with yards per carry allowed and rushing defense overall.
2023 Projection
Point blank, Bissainthe will be one of the best players on the team. The mental and physical capabilities are apparent. It’s time for him to go out and show what he can do in a full-time role. Look for Bissainthe to be one of the leading tacklers for the Canes, create huge plays, and also be a team leader.
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