2026 NFL Scouting Report: Rueben Bain Jr.

Rueben Bain Jr., 6-3/275
Defensive End
Miami

Rueben Bain Jr. Scouting Report

By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Dangerous edge defender
Powerful bull rush
Has some speed to power
Instincts
Excellent motor
Competitor, fighter
Plays hard
Good motor
Burst to close
Active hands
Ability to use hands and feet at same time
Able to shed blocks
Good run defender
Pursues out of his gap
Can hold his gap
Play recognition
Vision
Tone setter

Weaknesses:

Tweener end/tackle
Lacks length
Not overly fast
Has some stiffness
Lacks height
Will have quiet games, stretches

Prospect Summary:

Bain came on strong as a freshman for Miami, recording 44 tackles with 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one pass batted in his debut season with the Hurricanes. As a sophomore, Bain was injured and did not see the field until early October. In eight games, he totaled 23 tackles with 3.5 sacks. In 2025, Bain had a hot start to the season. He was quiet for the middle section of the year, and late in the season he had only three sacks on the year. However, he got hot to close out the season and was excellent in the college football playoff. Bain finished with 54 tackles, 9.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble in his final season with Miami.

For the NFL, Bain is a physical defender at the point of attack and an excellent run defender. He is tough as nails and difficult to move in the ground game. He holds his gap well with the strength to work off blocks. With a quality lateral anchor and good leverage, offensive linemen struggle to move Bain. He routinely takes on and sheds blocks to get in on tackles that help produce quality down-and-distance situations. Bain has a steady motor and doesn’t quit on plays. With his strength, build, good fundamentals, and technique, Bain should be an asset as a run defender at the next level.

In the pass rush, Bain is a solid contributor but not a world beater that is going to be a mid-teens or 20 sack kind of defender like a Myles Garrett or T.J. Watt. While Bain is quick and has some speed to close, Bain is not ultra-fast with dominant speed rush off the edge. He has a powerful bull rush and some quickness out of his stance, but he has some stiffness and can struggle to dip his hips to redirect to the quarterback. As a rusher, he has the versatility to move inside and go against guards. In the pro ranks, Bain will probably never be a prolific sack artist, but he could be a really solid complement to good rushers around him.

Bain is versatile to line up on the edge or move inside to tackle as a three technique in the sub package. He is known to be a leader, a hard worker, and a tone setter. Bain is a tweener end/tackle, and that makes him have some limitations for the NFL and could limit his sack total as a pro.

In the 2026 NFL Draft, Bain looks like a top-20 pick.