Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. put up a remarkable stat sheet in his junior season with the Hurricanes, racking up 9.5 sacks and helping lead Miami to an appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
But the pre-draft discourse around Bain has centered on his arm length, which is projected to be somewhat short for a defensive end. At his media availability at the NFL Combine on Feb. 25, Bain said the teams he spoke with are not worried about it.
“I [didn’t] hear it ’til later in the year, but it kind of surprised me because I never heard it all my life and I just never gave it the time of the day, honestly,” he said.
Bain noted that much of the talk about his arms was social media chatter.
“None of the teams seem to be too concerned with it,” he said. “As long as I just could talk the talk and walk the walk, play with technique, nobody really asked me about it.”
In December, The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler wrote in a post on X that Bain’s arms clocked in at 30 3/4 inches, leading several teams to project him as a defensive tackle.
Despite physical concerns, Bain’s production stands out. He had 54 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, and a pass defended in 16 games. He finished his college career with 121 total tackles, 20.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles, and an interception.
He showed out in a big way in the College Football Playoffs. He had 3 tackles and a sack in the first round against Ohio State, and a tackle in the Cotton Bowl against Ole Miss. He put on a show in the National Championship game against Indiana, racking up 8 tackles and a sack in the 27-21 loss.
Bain said his mindset was key to his success in the Hurricanes’ playoff run.
“My mindset was that I can control the game,” he said. “I can make a play every play, each play, and my effort [is] going to determine the outcomes of the games, and I came in with [that] mindset, just a kill-all mentality because it’s the playoffs. You win or go home. And if you check my track record in the playoffs, that’s my best football in my life.”
Besides the arm length discussion, Bain said he was happy with his preparation and the Combine so far. He had meetings with several teams, doing background interviews to determine his fit with the team culture, and going over simple defensive installs. He thought he performed well in all his interviews.
“I felt like it was my energy and my football IQ,” he said. “I came in knowing what to talk about and what to say, knowing football like the back of my hand, like my last name. And I just vibed and connected really well because we all talk ball.”
Bain was asked by a reporter what he brings to the team that drafted him.
“I feel like I’m versatile and I’ve got a hot motor,” he said. “I could do it at any position at any time with the best effort. And it’s on film, it’s not something I’m just saying.”
Bain said he eats, breathes, and sleeps football, and has no other hobbies or interests outside the sport.
He credited head coach Mario Cristobal for keeping him in his hometown and allowing him to make an impact on a team, and defensive ends coach and legendary NFL defensive end Jason Taylor for being an inspiration, a source of knowledge, and a second father in his time with the Canes.
Bain also shared the advice Taylor gave to him.
“Never get too high, never get too low, and don’t pressure stuff,” he said. “Just let stuff come to me, and everything will work out in his favor. [As] long as I put the right work in, the right preparation, everything’s going to work out.”
Bain said he does not care which team drafts him, because they are getting the best player in the draft.
“I’m going to come in with the mindset to work every day, prove myself in the locker room, and just be the person that I am,” he said.”
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