Mehdi Abdesmad: Overcoming Adversity

Written by Sebastian Lena

Mehdi Abdesmad isn't your typical football player.

No, it's not because of his freakish athleticism. At 6-7 and 286 pounds, the defensive lineman has made a habit of leaving opposing linemen and quarterbacks on their backs over the course of his career at Boston College.

No, it's not because of his affinity to dominate a game even while on a pitch count. Playing limited snaps each week, Abdesmad has still managed to amass 35 tackles (10.5 for loss) and 3.5 sacks in nine games.

Instead, it's because of his ability to forgive and forget.

During his junior season in 2013, Abdesmad was on his way to a breakout season, registering 17 tackles (3.5 for loss) and two sacks through three games. However, all of that came to a screeching halt when the Montreal, Quebec, product was on the wrong side of a blindside hit from Florida State tight end Nick O'Leary, resulting in a torn patella tendon and the end of his season.

Although many considered O'Leary's hit to be of the cheap variety, you won't find Abdesmad holding any grudges.

"At first I was mad," Abdesmad admitted. "But I think that was part of the path that God wanted me to go through. I just took that path and went through it."

That level-headedness would come in handy the very next season.

Over the first three games of 2014, Abdesmad never appeared right. So it was a no-brainer for the coaching staff and his doctors to decide to shut him down for the remainder of the year.

It was a tough process that threatened to put a dent on the young defensive lineman's mentality.

"I was upset because I had never gotten injured in my whole career until that point," Abdesmad said. "I've never had to go through [all the rehab] and it was tough. It's just a reminder that anybody could get hurt."

It didn't get any easier for him given the success the Eagles were having.

In 2013—one year after finishing 2-10—the team rebounded with a 7-6 record, making a bowl game for the first time since 2010. The next year, Abdesmad watched as his teammates once again battled towards a 7-6 record and reached another bowl.

But as frustrating as the experience was, it didn't come without its positives.

"[Being on the sidelines] helps you become a better football player because you get to learn the game more," said Abdesmad. "You also become a better man because you're going through a tough time. It forges you and makes you tougher."

There's no doubt Abdesmad is playing this season with a toughness you can't simply teach.

He plays every snap as if it could be his last. He's constantly motivating everyone around him whether he's on the sideline or on the field.

Abdesmad's efforts aren't lost on his teammates.

"He's a leader by example," defensive line coach Ben Albert told the MetroWest Daily News. "The guys have a great deal of respect for him. He's done all the right things off the field as well as on the field. He's the perfect guy to emulate.

"He's also not afraid to get into somebody's grill."

But Abdesmad is only giving back what he got from everyone around him.

"I had a great coaching staff, great teammates and great trainers that really pushed me to get through this," Abdesmad said. "I'm really grateful because they took care of me and that helped greatly. I don't think I could do it without them."

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