Rueben Bain Jr.
From Miami, Florida. Attended Miami Central HS — a Florida powerhouse where
he won four straight state championships, finishing his career with 77 sacks. Despite tearing
his MCL in the title game of his junior year, Bain posted 29 sacks as a senior to lead
Central to yet another title.
RECRUITING: 4-star, #15 in Florida, #10 EDGE in the 2022 cycle.
COLLEGE: Burst onto the national scene as a true freshman in 2023 — showed immediate pass-
rush polish and advanced leverage understanding. Third-team All-ACC + ACC Rookie of the Year
+ consensus Freshman All-American. Battled minor injuries through 2024. Returned in 2025 and
delivered his most dominant campaign: 9.5 sacks, 54 tackles, 1st-team All-ACC, 2nd-team AP
All-American, and the **2025 ACC Defensive Player of the Year**.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Round 1 top-10. CBS grades him as a top-5 player. Commanders at #7 pair
him with Dorrance Armstrong. Key question: short arms (<32") may cap ceiling vs NFL tackles.
Scouting Profile
Combine / Pro Day Measurables (reported)
| 40-yard dash | 4.62 |
| Vertical jump (in) | 35.5 |
| Broad jump | 10'3" |
| Bench press (225 reps) | 26 reps |
| 3-cone drill | 7.05 |
| 20-yard shuttle | 4.24 |
| Wingspan | 81.0" |
| Hand size | 9 7/8" |
Numbers compiled from NFL Scouting Combine results, Pro Day box scores, and beat-writer reports. "Reported" means cross-referenced against multiple sources; verify on nfl.com/combine for definitive marks.
College Career Stats
- 2023 Miami (Fr): 7.5 sacks, 33 tackles, 13 TFL — Freshman All-American + ACC Rookie of Year
- 2024 Miami (So): MCL injury, 4.5 sacks in 9 games
- 2025 Miami (Jr): 9.5 sacks, 54 tackles, 12 TFL — ACC Defensive Player of the Year, consensus All-American
Strengths
- Elite power — converts speed to bull rush better than anyone in the class
- Heavy hands jar tackles at the point of contact
- Run defender with edge-setting strength and shed quickness
- Relentless motor — chases QBs from 25+ yards downfield
- Mature pass-rush plan — multiple counters off the same set
Weaknesses / Areas to Develop
- Arms reportedly under 32" — concerning length vs NFL tackles
- 2024 MCL tear is a medical-re-check item
- Long-speed closing on QBs is good not great
NFL Pro Comparison
Brian Burns — twitchy power-rusher with sub-elite length but elite hands, motor, and rush-plan diversity
Outcome Range
- Floor: 8-sack-a-year starter for a decade
- Median: Pro Bowl 4-3 DE — 12-sack ceiling
- Ceiling: DPOY contender if length plays up; teams will gamble on the short arms
Scheme Fit
4-3 RDE in even fronts where his power maximizes; could play 3-4 OLB but gives up some production
Pre-Draft Visits
Top-30 visits with the Washington Commanders, Cleveland Browns, and Houston Texans
Signature College Game
2025 vs Florida State: 2.5 sacks, 4 TFL, forced fumble in 41-7 rout — confirmed his ACC DPOY case
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