Rueben Bain Jr.’s Miami Storybook Ends, NFL Journey Begins
There are few college football stories that wrap up as neatly-and as emotionally-as Rueben Bain Jr.’s. The Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman capped off a remarkable 2025 season with a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance at Hard Rock Stadium, just 10 miles from where he grew up. For Bain, it wasn’t just a game-it was the culmination of a journey that started in the heart of South Florida and now has him knocking on the door of the NFL.
From Miami Central to Hard Rock: A Full-Circle Moment
Bain’s final game in a Hurricanes uniform took place in the same stadium where he launched his football dreams. It was a moment that hit home, both literally and emotionally.
“I get to start it at Hard Rock and end it at Hard Rock - I'm going to cry,” he said before kickoff.
And he meant it. Nearly a week later, Bain still hadn’t come down from the high of that moment.
“I’m still feeling like I’m on cloud nine,” he said. “This whole year, this whole experience-it was quite the ride.”
The ride started at Miami Central High School, where Bain first made waves by winning the 2022 Nat Moore Trophy, awarded to the top high school player in South Florida. That honor served as a launchpad for what would become a defining college career.
Anchoring a Championship-Caliber Defense
Bain didn’t just play for the Hurricanes-he helped lead them back into national relevance. In 2025, he was the engine of a defense that powered Miami to 13 wins, a Cotton Bowl victory, and their first National Championship appearance in over 20 years.
Reflecting on that run, Bain credited the people who helped shape his path: “It’s probably been the best three years of my life. I always say, man, just thank Coach Cristobal, my mom, my dad, for allowing me and leading me to this direction, in this path.”
Three years. That’s all it took for Bain to etch his name into Miami football lore. Along the way, he picked up some serious hardware-ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023 and ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025.
Belief in the Cristobal Blueprint
As Bain prepares to take the next step, he’s leaving behind a Miami program he firmly believes is headed in the right direction. And that belief starts with head coach Mario Cristobal.
“Very confident,” Bain said when asked about the state of the program. “I’m confident in the D-line, the O-line, the whole position group, the coaches in the program, the students that assist us-everybody. We’ve got the right kind of people, right mindset in the building.”
With Bain, Akheem Mesidor, and David Abiara moving on, the defensive line room will look a bit different next season. But Bain doesn’t expect the standard to drop.
“I feel like, come around this time next year, they’ll be playing for the same thing,” he said.
Countdown to the NFL Draft
Now, the focus shifts to the next chapter. Bain is officially in draft prep mode, and the calendar is moving fast.
Four weeks until the NFL Combine. Eight until Pro Day.
Sixteen until Draft Day.
“Every day I wake up, I get a step closer, and it’s kind of crazy,” he said. “It gets shorter and shorter.”
He’s widely projected as a Top 10 pick-and for good reason. Bain’s ability to dominate off the edge or slide inside to a three-technique gives him the kind of versatility that NFL defensive coordinators dream about. He’s not just a fit for one scheme-he’s a fit for just about all of them.
A South Florida Legacy
Beyond the stats and accolades, Bain’s legacy in Miami runs deeper. He’s part of a growing wave of local talent staying home to restore the Hurricanes’ identity.
“There's no other reason to go out of state... stay home,” Bain said, urging the next generation of South Florida stars to follow his lead.
He may not be strutting the sidelines with a turnover chain like Canes legends of the past, but make no mistake-Rueben Bain Jr. has helped reset the standard in Coral Gables. His story started in Miami, ended in Miami, and now it’s headed to the NFL.
A fairytale ending? Sure.
But for Bain, it feels more like the beginning of something even bigger.