Miami Hurricanes linebacker Wesley Bissainthe. A Miami native, shares how he found football at a young age and quickly fell in love with playing linebacker, a position he’s stuck with ever since.

Wesley Bissainthe has always been a product of Miami — not just the city, but its football culture, its toughness, and its unshakable pride. Born and raised in Liberty City, Bissainthe grew up in the heart of one of America’s most fertile football hotbeds, where gridiron greatness is not just expected but demanded. For him, football wasn’t a game. It was a birthright.

Now a junior linebacker for the University of Miami Hurricanes, Bissainthe is stepping into a leadership role with expectations higher than ever. As the Canes gear up for a pivotal 2025 season, it’s Bissainthe — a hometown hero — who has become the heart of a defense brimming with talent and looking for identity. His journey to this point is one of love for the game, deep Miami roots, and a relentless commitment to the craft that shaped his life.

Bissainthe first found football in a neighborhood park at the age of six. His earliest memories are of chasing older kids around the field, wearing oversized pads and playing with a level of energy that coaches immediately noticed. He didn’t just want to play — he wanted to hit. And he quickly discovered there was a position designed exactly for that instinct.

“I remember the first time I lined up at linebacker,” Bissainthe recalls. “Coach told me, ‘Your job is to find the ball and make the tackle.’ That was it. Simple. And I loved it. I knew right away I was going to be a linebacker forever.”

While other kids toyed with running back or wide receiver, Bissainthe stuck with defense. He relished the collisions, the strategy, and the responsibility of being the quarterback of the defense. At Miami Central High School, he developed into a four-star recruit, known for his sideline-to-sideline range, quick instincts, and film-room intelligence. He became the kind of linebacker college programs build around — and fittingly, the University of Miami didn’t let him leave town.

Staying home was never a sure thing, but it always tugged at his heart. Schools like Florida State, Penn State, and Georgia came calling. Bissainthe took visits, heard pitches, and weighed his options. But ultimately, the pull of playing for the Canes — in front of family, for the city that raised him — was too strong to resist.

“I had people tell me to leave, to go see something different,” Bissainthe says. “But I felt like this was where I was supposed to be. I want to bring the U back, and I want to do it as a kid from here. That means something.”

Since arriving in Coral Gables in 2022, Bissainthe has steadily grown into a foundational piece of Miami’s defense. His freshman year saw him flash potential in rotational snaps, making a key third-down stop against North Carolina and showing his blitzing prowess against Georgia Tech. As a sophomore, he started eight games and recorded 63 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and three sacks. He also forced two fumbles and was named to the All-ACC Honorable Mention team.

But it’s this upcoming season — his junior year — where expectations have surged. With several veterans departing for the NFL, including standout Francisco Mauigoa, Bissainthe is now the linebacker Miami will lean on. And he’s embracing the moment with maturity and hunger.

“Wesley has always had the talent,” said defensive coordinator Lance Guidry. “Now he’s putting it all together — film, leadership, communication. He’s one of the smartest players I’ve coached. And when you pair that with physicality, you’ve got something special.”

Physically, Bissainthe checks every box: 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, elite quickness, and explosive change of direction. But what separates him is his preparation. Teammates say he’s the first one in the film room and the last one out of workouts. He leads walk-throughs. He asks the right questions in meetings. His IQ has made him the extension of the coaching staff on the field.

“You can’t fake this,” Bissainthe says. “Either you live it or you don’t. I want to know what the offense is doing before they do it. I take pride in being the guy that holds everybody accountable.”

That leadership is vital for a Miami team that enters 2025 with legitimate aspirations. The defense is stacked with talent: Kam Kinchens and James Williams in the secondary, Rueben Bain and Nyjalik Kelly up front, and new transfer additions like Oregon State’s Malik Baxter to fill in the gaps. But with all the talent in the world, the defense still needs a voice — and Bissainthe has become that.

In spring camp, he was named one of the team’s “Alpha Dogs,” a leadership role created by Coach Cristobal to signify tone-setters. During practice, Bissainthe is vocal, intense, and hands-on with younger players. After drills, he’s seen mentoring freshmen and breaking down coverage concepts with position groups.

“I’ve been where they are,” he says. “I was wide-eyed and trying to survive. Now it’s about helping them thrive.”

Off the field, Bissainthe remains deeply tied to his roots. He frequently visits his old high school and speaks with local Pop Warner teams, reminding young players that success is possible without leaving the neighborhood. He credits his mother and grandmother for keeping him grounded, even when recruiting hype threatened to pull him in every direction.

“They kept me focused,” he says. “They reminded me I wasn’t bigger than the work. Every time I go home, I remember who I’m doing this for.”

That perspective has made him a fan favorite in Coral Gables. Miami’s coaching staff has pushed him as a face of the program, using him in promotional material, leadership summits, and NIL opportunities. But even as attention grows, Bissainthe hasn’t changed. He still eats at the same local spots, still trains at the same Liberty City gyms, and still spends his off-days helping coach youth teams in Overtown.

“This is bigger than me,” he says. “It’s about the next Wesley. I want kids from Miami to see it’s possible. I want them to wear that U one day too.”

Heading into the 2025 season, Bissainthe has his eyes set on more than just tackles. He wants to win. Miami hasn’t claimed an ACC title since joining the conference, and this year’s team is built to change that. The Hurricanes return experience, athleticism, and depth across all three levels of the defense. Offensively, quarterback Judd Anderson enters year two with confidence, and the offensive line is among the best in the country.

For Bissainthe, this season is about fulfilling a promise — not just to himself, but to every kid who grew up watching the Canes and dreaming of playing at Hard Rock Stadium.

“We’ve talked about it long enough,” he says. “Now we’ve got to go out and earn it. No more talk. Just work.”

He understands the weight that comes with playing linebacker at Miami. It’s a lineage that includes Dan Morgan, Jonathan Vilma, DJ Williams, and Denzel Perryman — warriors who built the U’s defensive identity through violent hits and fearless leadership. Bissainthe wears that legacy with pride and purpose.

“They set the standard,” he says. “We’re trying to bring that energy back. Linebacker U — that’s what we’re chasing.”

Coaches say he’s ready. Teammates say he’s built for it. And opponents, at least privately, know he’s coming.

Wesley Bissainthe isn’t just playing linebacker at Miami. He’s living it. Breathing it. Carrying it for a new era. And if 2025 is the year the Hurricanes finally break through, it’ll be in no small part because of the kid from Liberty City who never wanted to play anywhere else.