Akheem Mesidor became Ottawa's first first-round NFL draft pick when the Los Angeles Chargers selected him No. 22 overall. His journey began with grueling 800-mile minivan rides to camps with coach Victor Tedondo, who founded the Gridiron Academy. Tedondo's harsh critiques — "You f---ing suck" — pushed Mesidor from linebacker to defensive line at age 14.

At the Chargers facility, Mesidor arrives 30 minutes before practice daily, perfecting pass-rush moves. "He's the first one on the field every time," teammate Tuli Tuipulotu said. Coach Jim Harbaugh praised his "elite" quickness and polished arsenal. Mesidor's versatility stems from six college seasons at West Virginia and University of Miami, where he led the 2025 team with 17.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks.

Tedondo became a father figure to Mesidor, who grew up without one. After Mesidor quit football to work at Domino's amid family crises, Tedondo convinced him to return. Mesidor soon outworked peers, earning a scholarship to Clearwater Academy International, then 20 Division I offers.

Now Mesidor represents a pipeline of Ottawa talent joining NFL rosters. "We have dogs in Ottawa," he said. "The kids just need guidance."