Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE/DT
Height: 6’3”Weight: 270 lbsClass: JuniorSchool: MiamiSTATS
A former four-star recruit out of Miami Central High School in Miami, Florida, where he was the 15th prospect in his state and the 10th overall EDGE, while being the 71st nationally graded player during the 2022 recruiting cycle. He earned the Nat Moore Trophy, as the top high school player at any position in the Miami area. Bain Jr. had a dominant junior season with the Hurricanes.
He added 83 pressures and 37 STOPs in 897 total defensive snaps through the 2025 season (557 were pass rushing reps). Bain Jr. missed 20.3% of his career tackles, but – similar to his teammate Ahkeem Mesidor – many of those tackle attempts should have NEVER BEEN tackle attempts, and were set up by Bain’s unique abilities.
Bain was a Consensus All-American in 2025, while earning the Ted Hendricks Award and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year honor. He was First-Team All-ACC in 2025 and Third-Team in 2023. Bain Jr. was a team captain in 2025 and, in 2023, he led the FBS with defensive line tackles for a loss and sacks.
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (4) against the Indiana Hoosiers during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
StrengthsDense frame with thick lower-body Exceptional feet at the LOSExcellent blend of power and quicknessHas sufficient lower body flexion to corner through contactVery good athlete with a solid first-stepExcellent timing, power, and precision with his handsExpansive pass rushing repertoire Copious amounts of power in his handsDestroys single blocks in the run game Tight end destroyer as 5-T/6-TGood anchor vs. double-teams – hips low, good feel to splitLow COG with violent hands and excellent powerExcellent force in to contact – very quick to shed/reactThumping hitsAllowed Miami to consistently steal gaps up front (gap and a half / 2-Gap)Good as a hammer or looper in twistsVery high football IQUnderstands how to take wide angles Very good at adjusting angles to opponent (pursuit/pocket) Versatile threat who can align across the LOSWeaknessesShorter arms than desiredShort area quickness to finish led to 20%+ missed tackle rate –but, to be fair, it was impressive he got close on some of those attemptsNot the most explosive edge rusher Can get risky with his gaps – they’re calculated risksSummary
Reuben Bain Jr. has a magnificent blend of technical savvy, precision and violence, all while being a reliable two-way player.
Bain Jr. does an excellent job syncing his feet and hands when rushing the passer; he understands how/when to attack, while possessing ample power and finesse moves with a solid ability to convert speed-to-power. Overall, he’s a high IQ player.
Bain Jr. is a sturdy run defender who understands gap integrity (although he does take risks) and can effectively anchor in place to absorb combo blocks, while also having the quickness to penetrate and disrupt rushing lanes.
Bain Jr. is a true tone-setting player on the defensive line. He will be an immediate impact player who has shorter arms, and isn’t the most explosive, but he’ll make an impactful difference for the team that drafts him.
GRADE: 7.04
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