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The national media is overthinking things once again. Every year, it seems like people talk themselves into putting prospects at the top of their positional group when the clear top choice is right in front of them. We are seeing it this year, as somehow Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. is no longer the top EDGE prospect, according to many. Let's talk about why this is a mistake.
Bain, a former four-star recruit out of Miami Central High School in Miami, Florida, won four straight(!) state championships, totaling 77 career sacks, before landing with the Hurricanes. It took three short weeks before Bain would become a starter, never looking back. He would total 18.5 sacks during his collegiate career, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year and consensus All-American honors this past season.
The overthinking of Rueben Bain Jr. is getting out of hand. When you have an elite-level knee bend as he does, with the capability to explode out of the bend and out of his stance, you can't second-guess this. He turns speed to violent power, especially with his hands, with ease. He's a plus run defender, too, with great awareness of where to find the gap and seek the ball carrier. The moment is never too big, as he had five sacks in the College Football Playoff. Positional versatility is another major plus, as he can kick down closer to the guards. Motor is constantly running hot.
NFL teams are overthinking this arm length thing. Yes, he measured under 31-inch arms. Not sure it's as major a deal as some are making it out to be. What does concern me is the missed tackles on tape. Bain struggles against running backs with juice in open space, often committing to one lane and failing to adjust. The speed-to-power is his game, but clear flaws in his counter-rush moves will hit him hard at the next level.
Let's not overthink Rueben Bain Jr. anymore. This is a top-five player in the class, with an early first-round grade. If he falls outside the top ten, then nine GMs should be on the hot seat in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 2026 NFL Draft scouting report on Miami (FL) edge Rueben Bain Jr.
Continue reading...
Bain, a former four-star recruit out of Miami Central High School in Miami, Florida, won four straight(!) state championships, totaling 77 career sacks, before landing with the Hurricanes. It took three short weeks before Bain would become a starter, never looking back. He would total 18.5 sacks during his collegiate career, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year and consensus All-American honors this past season.
The overthinking of Rueben Bain Jr. is getting out of hand. When you have an elite-level knee bend as he does, with the capability to explode out of the bend and out of his stance, you can't second-guess this. He turns speed to violent power, especially with his hands, with ease. He's a plus run defender, too, with great awareness of where to find the gap and seek the ball carrier. The moment is never too big, as he had five sacks in the College Football Playoff. Positional versatility is another major plus, as he can kick down closer to the guards. Motor is constantly running hot.
NFL teams are overthinking this arm length thing. Yes, he measured under 31-inch arms. Not sure it's as major a deal as some are making it out to be. What does concern me is the missed tackles on tape. Bain struggles against running backs with juice in open space, often committing to one lane and failing to adjust. The speed-to-power is his game, but clear flaws in his counter-rush moves will hit him hard at the next level.
Let's not overthink Rueben Bain Jr. anymore. This is a top-five player in the class, with an early first-round grade. If he falls outside the top ten, then nine GMs should be on the hot seat in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 2026 NFL Draft scouting report on Miami (FL) edge Rueben Bain Jr.
Continue reading...
