The Miami Hurricanes' defensive line looks to be one of the best in the nation going into the 2025-26 college football season. Recently, the Canes' defensive line earned the No. 8 spot in Pro Football Focus's (PFF) rankings. Leading the charge is defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., who delivered a standout freshman season in 2023. Bain's performance earned him ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and a third-team All-ACC selection.
2024 wasn't exactly what Bain envisioned, but after a good spring he hopes to return to form and lead the charge in 2025. Here is what PFF had to say about one of the top defensive lineman in the ACC:
"Rueben Bain Jr. is back to lead the Hurricanes' defense in his junior season and is a projected top-15 pick in this upcoming NFL Draft. My No. 4 edge defender in the country is third among returning Power Four edge defenders with 73 pressures since 2023, while his 16.9% pass-rush win rate in that span is fourth."PFF
Akheem Mesidor, who missed most of the 2023 season due to injury, bounced back last season. In 2024, Mesidor registered 32 total tackles, 9 TFL's and 5.5 sacks. He holds an 86.1 PFF grade since joining Miami in 2022. Expectations are high for the sixth-year senior.
Redshirt junior Ahmad Moten, who PPF gave a 78.0 pass-rush grade to is back on the interior. Sophomore Justin Scott, who was a former 5-star, will likely be the other starter at DT. He played 113 snaps in his true freshman season. PFF also mentions that the Hurricanes have two former five-star recruits on the edge in Armondo Blount and Marquise Lightfoot.
The full list goes in this order:
1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Texas Tech
4. Florida
5. Penn State
6. Michigan
7. Georgia
8. Miami
9. Oklahoma
10. Texas
Honorable Mention: Oregon