If you’ve watched Miami over the past few seasons, you probably noticed Rueben Bain Jr. before you ever learned his name.
He’s the kind of defender who jumps off the screen — not just because he’s constantly in the backfield, but because he plays like every snap matters. Bain stepped into a starting role early in his career and quickly became one of the driving forces behind Miami’s defense. He’s thick, twitchy and downright disruptive, with 24.0 tackles for loss and 14.0 sacks over the past two-plus seasons.
By 2025, his resume already included conference honors, team captaincy and consistent backfield production. He doesn’t fit the classic height-and-length mold of an NFL edge rusher, but the explosiveness, leverage and finishing ability are what evaluators believe will translate at the next level. He’s widely viewed as a potential top-five pick and and could even push to be the No. 1 overall selection.
Here’s a full breakdown of his NFL Draft profile — including background, measurables, strengths, weaknesses and pro comparison:
Bain is a multi-year starter who has impressive production as a disruptive presence over the past three seasons. Bain is a twitchy prospect who is thick and dense and has the versatility to line up at multiple spots on the defensive line and the ability to wreck a game. He’s a leader and an alpha who plays with a passion for the game.
CBS prospect ranking: No. 6 1 (No. 2 EDGE)
To check out all of CBSSports.com’s most recent mock drafts, click here.
NFL comparison: Dwight Freeney (Pro Football Hall of Famer)
Freeney, like Bain, has elite get-off-the-ball ability, and both have great bend to turn the corner and get home. Both lack the “ideal height and length” but play with excellent technique and the ability to get home with speed and power. They also play with above-average leverage in the run game.
College Football’s Top 150 Players at Midseason of 2025: The definitive list, led by Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr.
Blake Brockermeyer
Rueben Bain Jr. scouting report
Career honors and highlights
- 2025: Team captain
- 2024: Honorable Mention All-ACC
- 2023: Freshman All-American (several outlets)
- 2023: ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year
- 2023: Third-team All-ACC
- 2023: Led all FBS DL nationally in tackles for loss (12.5) and sacks (7.5)
Strengths
- Exceptional physical traits for an edge player with a nice mixture of twitch, power and a relentless motor
- Leader and tonesetter for a program that develops in the trenches.
- Plays with great football instincts in the run game and has heavy hands to shock and shed blockers, as well as knock-back power. Possesses excellent lateral quickness
- Quick get-off and is a force with an impressive speed-to-power combination. Bends well at the top of his rushes and finishes at the quarterback.
Weaknesses
- Occasionally undisciplined in maintaining primary gap and pass-rush integrity
- Adequate length, but wingspan lacks “ideal” NFL measurements
- Needs to develop counters at next level vs. uptick in competition
Rueben Bain Jr. college stats
| Season | G | Solo | Ast | Comb | TFL | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 13 | 23 | 21 | 44 | 12.5 | 7.5 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Career | 32 | 52 | 46 | 98 | 24.0 | 14.0 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Rueben Bain Jr. 247Sports profile
High school: Miami Central (Miami)
Class: 2023
Composite Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (96)
- National: 71 | EDGE: 10 | Florida: 15
High school honors and highlights: 2022 Nat Moore Trophy (South Florida’s top high school player); 2021 MaxPreps Junior All-American; 2021 Miami Herald 5A-IND Co-Defensive Player of the Year; Under Armour All-America Game; four-time state champion; 77 career sacks (19.25 per season)
Check out Rueben Bain Jr.’s full 247Sports profile, here.
The 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23–25 in Pittsburgh. You can find more draft coverage at CBSSports.com, including weekly mock drafts and regular evaluations of the top prospects.
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