Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. is fancying his chances of being among the first players drafted this year. The junior compiled a strong resume in his three years with the Miami Hurricanes and should see the fruits of his hard work this April. While he has the potential to be a major success in the NFL, experts and fans alike have questioned his height ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
What is Bain’s view on his physical shortcomings?
Rueben Bain Jr. Plans to Overcome Height Disadvantage With “Bruiser” Approach
Bain was a highly impactful pass rusher right from the get-go in college. He committed to head coach Mario Cristobal’s program in 2023 and never looked back, spending the following three years compiling 121 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.
However, his production at the collegiate level is not curbing concerns about his height in the pros. Bain stands at 6-foot-2 1/4 with a 30 7/8-inch arm length. Both rank below average, with his arm length falling in the bottom third of prospects. In the NFL, a pass rusher who stands 3 to 4 inches below the offensive linemen he is trying to beat usually does not fare well.
NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe mentioned Bain’s height when he interviewed the Miami prospect at his pro day, and the pass rusher had a smooth response.
“Mike Tyson wasn’t the tallest,” Bain said. “He wasn’t the longest. But when you felt him, you felt him. You kept your distance.”
Moreover, Bain wanted to use his pro day for a very specific purpose, which he also elaborated on with Wolfe.
“[I wanted to show the scouts] my versatility,” he said. “Most people don’t know I could just drop into coverage and move around like that tracking balls, anything. I feel like I’m a versatile player, and that’s what I showed today. Just knowing that I’m at a new weight, new body type, but I’m still the same player. No matter what, I can do anything.”
Despite his height concerns, experts around the NFL are still high on the defensive lineman, with most projecting him to be drafted in the first round. His elite power often drew double teams in college, demonstrating the value he could bring at the next level.
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PFSN is high on Bain’s stock, ranking him as the No. 1 EDGE in the 2026 class.
“With his power and raw strength, Bain can sledge through tackles and overwhelm 1-on-1 as a pass-rusher, but he also has the hyper-elite sturdiness to absorb combo and duo blocks in the run game, and sets an edge with unflinching consistency,” PFSN wrote.
Standing a solid few inches below average, it will be interesting to see how Bain wills his way to the NFL.
