Hurricanes’ Rueben Bain Jr. Gets Into the Quarterback’s Head

Pass rushers are a premium in the NFL, and the University of Miami’s edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. has what it takes to be a difference-maker at the next level.

BAIN IS A DEFENSIVE PREDATOR THAT OPPOSING TEAMS NEED TO BE AWARE OF AT ALL TIMES

This was especially true for the quarterbacks who were noticeably sensitive and reactive to Bain whenever he began penetrating the pocket. It was like watching swimmers near a beach when they saw a fin in the water.

Quarterbacks were quick to move off their spot and sometimes were so preoccupied with Bain that they threw errant passes.

That stood out on film.

Looking back and looking ahead

Bain had a “down year” in 2024 due to a hamstring pull (247Sports). Despite missing four games, he still managed to log 3.5 sacks and 28 pressures. That was a departure from 7.5 sacks and 45 pressures in 2023.

With a full off-season and him losing 10 pounds, I expect him to bounce back.

“I just want to be a little bit more mobile and flexible and also get a little twitchier,” Bain said in that 247Sports report. “I just want to be the guy I was in high school and be the original me.”

Why else is Bain such a dangerous pass rusher?

• Violent demeanor
• Natural strength
• Understands the art of leverage
• Uses hands well
• Pass rushing toolbox
• Attacks from different spots
• Speed to close the deal
• Devastating hitter

I can’t stress enough what an advantage it is to have a pass rusher who knows how to create leverage and effectively use his hands to beat the blocker in front of him.

How is Bain as a run defender?

He hits like a sledgehammer, he wraps up like a vice-grip, and game film reveals that stopping the run is important to him, provided he gets to the right spot.

What do I mean?

It became more obvious the longer I watched that Bain can get fooled by play misdirection.

BIG endorsement

That’s the same Jason Taylor who played in the NFL, logging 139.5 sacks as a defensive end and who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

#4 Rueben Bain Jr. 6-foot-3, 275 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Summer Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First-Round prospect as of July 26, 2025

2024 game film evaluated: Florida, CAL, Louisville, FSU, Duke, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Syracuse, and Iowa State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

High-impact defender. Menace. Athletic. Fluid. Thick build. Powerful lower body. Equally distributed wide muscular frame. Dominant strength. Attacks outside and inside. Stands up off the edge or plays with his hand down in the dirt. Decent motor. Tenacious 60% of the time. A lot of “X” stunts. Prefers attacking inside gaps. Throws his weight around. Quick. Draws double teams. Capable of splitting them. Senses vulnerability. Creates outside rush leverage with his signature head fake to crack the back door. Complimentary pass rush moves, swim, spin, rip, and an authoritative bull rush. Can get outside on screens. Loves playing bumper cars with the big boys on running plays. Inconsistent shedding strong blocks.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. Stays healthy?

2. Fooled by misdirection on running plays?

3. Motor?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.