Key Takeaways
- Miami defensive lineman Damon Wilson II shared racist, homophobic, and threatening Instagram messages after the Hurricanes’ 43–35 double-overtime win over Florida State, calling them a “glimpse into the life of a black student athlete.”
- The account bore the name Kade McLendon, whose now-private LinkedIn profile identified him as a Florida State alumnus and computer technician for The Florida Bar.
- The Florida Bar opened an internal investigation into messages “possibly sent from an employee’s social media account,” but has not announced any findings.
Damon Wilson II should have been celebrating. The University of Miami had just survived Florida State in a 43–35 double-overtime thriller, keeping its undefeated season alive and delivering another wild chapter in one of college football’s fiercest rivalries.
Instead, the Hurricanes defensive lineman was showing the world the racist threats waiting in his Instagram inbox.
Wilson posted a screenshot of the messages to his Story with nine words above it: “Glimpse into the life of a black student athlete.”
An account bearing the name Kade McLendon repeatedly used racial and homophobic slurs, threatened sexual violence against Wilson, and wished harm on his family. The sender also insulted Wilson’s performance.
The Hurricanes had beaten the Seminoles at Hard Rock Stadium in a game that needed two extra periods to settle. Miami totaled 583 yards before scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion in the second overtime, then stopped Florida State to close the night.
The win moved the Hurricanes to 6–0 and helped send them to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2002.
Wilson is a senior defensive lineman in his first season at Miami after playing at Georgia and Missouri. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound pass rusher arrived as one of the Hurricanes’ most important transfers after a breakout 2025 season at Missouri, where he led the Tigers with nine sacks and earned second-team All-SEC honors.
The messages have also drawn a response from The Florida Bar. A LinkedIn profile bearing McLendon’s name listed him as a computer technician for the organization and identified Florida State University as his alma mater; it has since been made private amid the backlash.
The Florida Bar acknowledged that uncertainty in its statement posted on X, saying it was aware of messages “possibly sent from an employee’s social media account” containing “inappropriate content.” The organization added that it had opened an internal investigation.
No findings from that investigation have been announced as of this writing.
