Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (44) and former linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (51) celebrate after a defensive stop during the first half of the 2023 Pinstripe Bowl against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Yankee Stadium. \ Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. starting to get some major hype

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Oct 13, 2025 11:45 PM ET

If you're a college football fan and haven't tuned in to watch the Miami Hurricanes play this season, you may be missing out.

Miami is 5-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country. Mario Cristobal has put together a team that looks like it can compete in the College Football Playoffs, and there's elite talent on both sides of the football.

Quarterback Carson Beck, formerly of the Georgia Bulldogs, is a Heisman Trophy contender, but on the defensive side of the ball, the college football nation is going to have to start paying attention to defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr.

In fact, ESPN's Heather Dinich believes that Bain is a Heisman Trophy contender himself.

“I am a Heisman voter, and I will vote for the best player in the country, offense or defense, and he is a disruptive force,” Dinich said on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday (h/t On3). “It is not necessarily in his stats, but he gets his hand on the ball, forced fumble, interception. I mean, he can do it all. He draws other players to him, and he’s playing on what could be the selection committee’s No. 1 team and one of the best defenses in the country.”

Miami Hurricanes have a star in Rueben Bain Jr.

"My Heisman pick right now is Rueben Bain Jr..

He's a disruptive force and he can do it all"@CFBHeather #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Vv8w84OBrY
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 13, 2025

Checking in at an imposing 6-foot-3, 275 pounds, Bain is one of the best quick-twitch athletes in college football. He's a game-wrecker much like Myles Garrett or Micah Parsons are in the NFL.

So far this season, he's notched 26 tackles (12 solo), one pass defended, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. He's the type of player that offensive coordinators try to do everything in their power to draw plays away from.

A homegrown junior from Miami, Florida, Bain is also starting to get some major hype as far as the NFL is concerned.

“Taking the right angle to the QB is a very underrated trait for an edge rusher, and Bain does that as well as anyone," ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. wrote in a recent piece. "And it’s not just the pass rush. Bain can shed blockers and make run stops. He’s really disruptive, and if he stays healthy this season, he has top-10 upside.”

Rueben Bain Jr. INTERCEPTION!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/GvjZNgQ41v
— Grant Speaks (@GrantSpeaks1) September 1, 2025

If Miami keeps on winning, and there's no reason to think the Hurricanes won't keep rolling, expect Bain to keep getting more and more national spotlight.

He's really good.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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