Rueben Bain Jr.: one of college football’s most explosive edge rushers originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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When you talk about pure explosiveness on the defensive line, Rueben Bain Jr. has to be in the conversation. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound junior out of Miami has taken another step forward this season, proving he’s more than just a promising young pass rusher, he’s becoming a complete defensive force.
Bain enters the final stretch of the year with three sacks, a forced fumble, and 32 total tackles, but the numbers don’t fully capture his impact. His first step is elite, and he consistently wins reps by combining burst, leverage, and power in a way few edge rushers at his size can match. When Bain converts speed to power, offensive tackles struggle to anchor against him.
The Hurricanes rely heavily on his ability to create disruption, and Bain brings it every week with a high motor, strong pursuit skills, and impressive short-area quickness. He’s shown real versatility in his technique, swim moves, bull rushes, counters, and once he gets his hands on the quarterback, he finishes the play.
Miami’s defense has needed leaders up front, and Bain has embraced that role. With another offseason of development, NFL scouts fully expect him to enter the 2026 draft cycle as one of the top pass-rush prospects in the country.
Bain isn’t just athletic; he’s instinctive, powerful, and polished. His ceiling is sky-high, and he’s already proving he can dominate against top-tier competition.
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