Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain is fifth and right tackle Francis Mauigoa sixth in the CBS Sports "2026 NFL Draft: Ranking the top-50 prospects to watch this season, with Arch Manning leading the way." Clemson, Miami and Texas are the only three programs with two players in the CBS Sports top 10 2026 prospects.
Bain hopes to rebound from a 2024 season when he was limited to nine games, 23 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. As a true freshman in 2023, Bain had 44 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 7.5 TFLs, 3.0 forced fumbles, 1.0 pass breakup and 1.0 pass defended, playing in all 13 games.
Bain will play under new Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman in 2025. Miami will play more aggressively with an emphasis on getting up the field quicker under Hetherman than they did previously. The new system and being healthy after missing four games in 2024 should help Bain return to his 2023 form.
Bain is projected as the second player on defense and first defensive lineman among the top 50 2026 NFL Draft prospects rated by CBS Sports. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is the second overall prospect. Texas quarterback Arch Manning is the top-ranked 2026 NFL Draft prospect by CBS Sports.
"5. EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)Josh Edwards, CBS Sports
Bain was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-ACC third-team as a true freshman in 2023 after logging 45 pressures and 7.5 sacks.
6. OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
Born in American Samoa, he (Mauigoa) was the No. 6 overall prospect out of high school, according to 247Sports."
As Edwards referenced, Mauigoa was the sixth-ranked prospect in the 2023 class by 247Sports and also the second OT. Kadyn Proctor, who was the top-ranked OT in the 2023 class, is also first among 2026 NFL Draft prospects at the position in the CBS Sports rankings. Mauigoa is third with Utah 4. OT Spencer Fano, second.
Mauigoa has started all 26 games for Miami in his first two seasons. In 2024, Mauigoa earned second-team All-ACC. Mauigoa was named honorable mention All-ACC in 2023 and was named to several freshman All-America teams. Bain and Mauigoa could be the first Miami teammates selected in the top 10 since 2004.