Rueben Bain Jr. is one of the most decorated defensive ends in Miami Hurricanes history. He was a four-star recruit out of Miami Central, a MaxPreps Junior All-American, and he got his high school four straight state championships before committing to Miami and staying committed. In 2025, he led Miami’s defensive front to 13 wins and a berth in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. His final college season earned him the Ted Hendricks Award, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, consensus All-America honors, and, as I hope to argue, a high draft stock.
Bain possesses a powerful frame with impressive linear speed for a 275-pound lineman. His first-step quickness allows him to fire off the snap and immediately convert speed into force, and challenge offensive linemen immediately. However, his lack of ideal arm length is apparent on tape, forcing him to rely on his burst and leverage. Indeed, he is not a “finesse” rusher. Bain’s primary win condition is power. His bend is adequate to solid, which allows him to tilt and lean through contact. Typically, in late-game scenarios or when stalled, Bain will keep driving forward and lean more into the body instead of disengaging or transitioning into a finesse or spin move counter. When he cannot get home, he is disruptive enough to force a QB to throw early or to flush the QB. His pursuit range is limited; he struggles to finish plays that drift outside the hash marks or require significant lateral redirection.
Further, his heavy initial strikes jar offensive linemen, and he can collapse the pocket even if he does not win outright, especially when able to convert speed into force quickly. He is a high-effort tackler within the box, but lacks the sideline-to-sideline speed to chase down perimeter runs. Bain also shows no drop-off in his forward-facing speed, even following negative plays. He is eager to shoot gaps but can be prone to overpursuing, allowing quarterbacks to escape through vacated lanes. His processing is best in pass-rush situations where he can anticipate protection slides and snap counts with great confidence.
Scheme and Team Fit: Bain would fit well in a 4-3 defense that prioritizes physical ends over pure speed rushers. He fits the mold of teams seeking to improve their run defense and edge pressure. Further, he projects ideally to the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo has long operated a 4-3 scheme and is currently in the market for a heavier defensive end who can set the edge against the run. Other teams that he would fit well with would be the Indianapolis Colts, who desperately need an edge to pair with Laiatu Latu, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who finished 18th in defensive DVOA in 2025. Given Hasson Reddick has not been the answer for them at that position, and Todd Bowles’ defense has consistently lacked in edge production, it would make sense if Tampa traded up to lock down that position for a decade plus.
NFL Player Comparison: Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati Bengals)
Like Hendrickson, Bain compensates for his weaknesses with powerful hands and quick acceleration.
Projection: Star Player
Bain projects as a star player, almost certainly a first-rounder, and a virtual lock as a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft, and would slot in nicely to any team that drafts him as a day 1 starter. The Ted Hendricks award is further proof that he is NFL-ready. Grade and Round Projection: 6.1 out of 7, Top 10 Pick
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