Rueben Bain Jr. Leaves His Mark, But Says the Best Is Yet to Come for Miami
Rueben Bain Jr. isn’t just heading to the NFL with a standout college résumé-he’s leaving behind a Miami Hurricanes program that looks ready to make a serious run at a national title. And according to Bain, the foundation is already in place.
The All-American edge rusher, fresh off a season that saw him start all 16 games and rack up 54 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks, has been a cornerstone of Miami’s defensive resurgence. But Bain's impact goes beyond stats-he helped reshape the culture of a program that’s long been searching for its next championship identity.
In a recent interview, Bain made it clear: this isn’t the end of something-it’s the beginning.
“I’m very confident,” Bain said. “I’m just confident in the [defensive] line, the [offensive] line, the whole position group, coaches in the program, the students that assist us, everybody. We all got the right kind of people, right mindset in the building.”
That mindset shift has been brewing under head coach Mario Cristobal, but it’s players like Bain-homegrown, loyal, and battle-tested-who’ve helped bring it to life. In an era where the transfer portal has made roster turnover the norm, Bain’s decision to stick with the Hurricanes speaks volumes.
And now, even as he prepares for the NFL Scouting Combine and what’s likely to be an early first-round draft selection, Bain is more focused on what’s coming next for the team he’s leaving behind.
“The only older guys leaving this year are me, Akheem [Mesidor], and David [Blay],” Bain said. “Other than that, it’s a room full of returners.
You see the standard we played. I feel like come around this time next year, we’ll be playing for the same thing.”
That’s not just talk. Miami’s defensive core is staying largely intact, and there’s no shortage of talent waiting in the wings. Veterans like Ahmad Moten Sr. and Mohamed Toure are returning, and younger players such as Marquise Lightfoot, Hayden Lowe, Justin Scott, and Armondo Blount are poised to take the next step.
Add in some heavy hitters from the transfer portal-Keona Davis, Jarquez Carter, and Damon Wilson II-and the Hurricanes are reloading, not rebuilding.
Bain and Mesidor were a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks this season, forming one of the most disruptive edge duos in the country. That kind of pressure didn’t just change games-it set the tone for a defense that played with swagger, speed, and purpose. And with so many pieces returning, there’s every reason to believe that standard will hold.
As Bain heads to Indianapolis for the NFL Combine from February 26 to March 1, his focus will shift to the next level. But his fingerprints are all over this Miami team. He didn’t just play in a new era-he helped build it.
The Hurricanes may have fallen just short of the ultimate prize this season, but with the culture Bain helped establish, they’re not far off. And if his prediction holds true, don’t be surprised if Miami is right back in the national title conversation a year from now.