Rueben Bain Jr. (4) competes in a drill during University of Miami Pro Day workout on Monday, March 23, 2026, at Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility in Coral Gables, Fla.
Alie Skowronski
askowronski@miamiherald.com
It didn’t take long for Rueben Bain Jr. to see the circle starting to form.
More than 100 NFL personnel members, with all 32 teams represented, watched intently as Bain and fellow defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor went through their position drills during the Miami Hurricanes’ Pro Day on Monday at the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility.
Bain was one of the main attractions, one of three likely first-round picks from this team (along with Mesidor and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa) during next month’s NFL draft.
There’s a lot of business to attend to between then and now, and he’s keeping his emotions in check until then.
But Monday’s final practice on the field he called home for three years served as a final reminder of how far he has come — and how much more he still hopes to accomplish.
“It’s a big, big weight that came off my shoulders, but I’m so blessed to be here,” Bain said. “Waking up every day and being able to chase my dream and play football for a living, that’s a that’s a wonderful opportunity. For me, to come out here, put on a show one last time, it’s the best thing I can ask for.”
All the time and effort Bain put in over the past three years is paying off. He’s projected to be a top-10 pick when the draft begins on April 23 — exactly one month from Pro Day.
His resume speaks for itself: 121 career tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, 114 quarterback pressures (including 68 as a junior), 2025 consensus first-team All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
NFL.com’s player comparison for Bain is Brandon Graham, the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2010 first-round pick who has 495 career tackles and 79.5 sacks in 16 NFL seasons.
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein describes Bain as a “note taker, grudge holder and block destructor with a compact frame and defensive tackle play strength.”
“Bain is ill-tempered with his take-ons, hitting blockers with heavy hand strikes,” Zierlein’s analysis continues. “He plays through tight ends and can anchor against tackles and double teams. However, his lack of length can lead to him being smothered if he doesn’t land the first strike. He can bend and flip his hips at the top of the rush, swipe away punches and generate a strong bull rush. His playoff run showed an ability to generate quick wins if tackles are passive in setting to him. He can rush off the edge or mismatch guards as a sub-package rusher. Bain’s explosive power and toughness should translate, giving him a high floor as an NFL starter.”
What was Bain’s biggest takeaway from Pro Day?
“I feel like I can do it all,” Bain said. “All boxes were checked today. Everybody saw that I’m not just a guy that can put my hand in the dirt, but I can drop in coverage. I can move around real fluid, no matter what my size is. I get it done and I’m just football player.”
Among those in attendance to watch Bain perform: New Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Bain said he will meet with the Dolphins brass on Tuesday. Miami has two first-round picks this year — Nos. 11 and 30.
“That’s the hometown team,” Bain said. “So I’ll get to experience that. I’ve been going to that stadium all my life.”
Bain said he has talked with the Dolphins throughout the draft process and said that conversation have been “nothing short of amazing.”
“I’ve been putting on and showing why I am, who I am and showing that, man, I’m a hometown kid,” Bain said. “This is what I grew up feeling. And showed my passion about football and about the team, the program. Just showcasing my talents and who I am.”
Whether it’s with the Dolphins or elsewhere, Bain’s name is expected to be called early — and he’s not alone among Hurricanes players. If he, Mesidor and Mauigoa are all selected in the first round, it’ll be the first time since 2007 that UM has three first-round picks. Brandon Meriweather (24th to the New England Patriots), Jon Beason (25th to the Carolina Panthers) and Greg Olsen (31st to the Chicago Bears) went in the opening round that year.
The Hurricanes record for most first-round picks in a single draft is six, which happened in 2004 (Sean Taylor at No. 5, Kellen Winslow II at No. 6, Jonathan Vilma at No. 12, D.J. Williams at No. 17, Vernon Carey at No. 19 and Vince Wilfork at No. 21).
But no matter which team picks Bain, whichever team gives him the opportunity to continue his dream of playing football for a living, he knows he won’t be holding back the emotions.
“I’ll be crying like a baby,” Bain said. “I already know it because I put so much work into this. Even just being in here — staying out on the practice field, being early on the practice field, getting everything done. I give my all to football because I know football gave its all to me. I’m just ready for the moment.”
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Miami Herald
Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.