College football all but acts as the incubator, developing young recruits into battle-hardened generals for the NFL. Only a handful of these talents make it to the next level. And to be considered to stand out at the very top among those chosen few is no ordinary feat. Each year, it’s an honor that only one among the hundreds gets. The honor of being #1 at the NFL drafts. For 2025, it was Cam Ward. Now, another has crawled his way to the peak. Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami. He is being considered by many to be better than Abdul Carter.

After dominating and decimating quarterbacks one sack at a time, Rueben Bain Jr. is all set for the harsher climes of the NFL. The 6’3, 276-pound edge rusher has emerged as an early favorite for the number one pick among NFL scouts. It became all but clear by the Rookie Watch’s latest tweet. It said, “Rueben Bain Jr. is reportedly the “early favorite” amongst some NFL scouts to be the first overall pick. One NFL scout even reportedly believes Bain is a “better overall prospect” than Abdul Carter (Giants DE).” The claim of him being better than Carter might seem far-fetched, but the stats he posted say otherwise.

Over three seasons at Miami, Bain has been a revelation. He has totaled 93 tackles, 49 solo tackles, 13 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 interception. Through five games in 2025, he leads Miami with 26 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble. While posting a remarkable 95.8 PFF grade, the highest in all of college football. He has established himself as one of the mainstays of the Hurricanes’ defense over the years.

Mario Cristobal, the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, all but solidified his status as the best when he said, “Rueben Bain has really, in my opinion, separated himself as one of the best, if not the best player in the country.”

Rueben Bain Jr. is the consensus top-5 for multiple NFL mock drafts. He has a 78.8% first-round projection rate according to the NFL mock Draft database. CBS ranks him No. 1 overall, and ESPN has him as the top defensive prospect. While USA Today ranks him third overall. He is projected by the Athletic to join this year’s top pick and former teammate, quarterback Cam Ward, in Tennessee.

ESPN Draft Expert Matt Miller was full of praise for Reuben when talking about the Miami players’ prospects. “Defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. has been exceptional all season, with two sacks and a résumé full of impact plays. At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, he has a combination of power and quickness to his game that makes him an easy evaluation to the next level as a power rusher. In that way, he’s similar to Trey Hendrickson; he has a well-rounded skill set. Bain is playing like a top-five pick.” These remarks further justify his number one pick status in most of the mock drafts.

Bain’s defensive dominance fuels championship dreams

Miami’s defense has powered them to an unbeaten run of 5 matches. They rank 13th nationally and have given just 13.6 points per game. Also, they are 16th in total defense with 276 yards lost per contest. The unit’s success lies in a relentless front seven that consistently pressures opponents into mistakes and limits explosive plays.​

At the heart of this defensive dominance is Rueben Bain Jr., who leads Miami with 26 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks through the first five games of the season. Pro Football Focus credits Bain with a team-high 94.1 run defense grade. Which is second-best in the nation, underscoring his ability to anchor the line of scrimmage against both the run and pass.​

Miami’s signature wins over Notre Dame, Florida, and Florida State highlight Bain’s impact, as the Hurricanes held the Gators to just 141 total yards in a dominant 26-7 victory. With Miami sitting at No. 2 in the AP Poll and an 84.3% chance to finish the regular season at 11-1 according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, Bain’s continued excellence will be crucial to sustaining this championship-caliber defense