Rueben Bain was the top-ranked defensive lineman in the 2023 Miami class in a group full of blue-chip signees at the position. The three other DL Miami signees in the 2023 class have transferred to other programs. The players who have left Miami from the 2023 class do not include incoming transfers.
In addition to Bain, Miami signed four-star edge rushers Collins Acheampong and Jayden Wayne and blue-chip defensive tackle Joshua Horton in the 2023 class. Bain had a breakout freshman season in which he was named the 2023 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Bain had 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 3.0 forced fumbles, 1.0 pass breakup and one pass defended in 2023 per his official Miami profile page. A soft tissue injury limited Bain to 23 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks in nine games during the 2023 season.
Acheampong did not play during his one season at Miami in 2023. Following the 2023 season, Acheampong transferred to UCLA and he did not receive any playing time with the Bruins either. Acheampong transferred from UCLA to Bowling Green following the 2024 season.
Miami transfer DL Josh Horton has signed with Georgia, ESPN has learned.
— Max Olson (@max_olson) April 21, 2025
The Georgia native is coming home after two seasons in a reserve role with the Hurricanes. pic.twitter.com/H4p2KnODhU
Wayne is on his third program. After leaving Miami following the 2023 season, Wayne returned home to play for Washington. Wayne had 13 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks as a freshman for Miami in 2023. Wayne had six tackles and 1.0 pass defended for Washington in 2024 before transferring to California.
Horton was the most significant loss among the Miami defensive linemen in the 2023 class. Although he had only four tackles and a 0.5 TFL in seven games during two seasons with Miami, Horton was expected to be a significant part of the 2025 rotation on the DL.
Horton took a similar path to Wayne and chose to return home. It was announced on Sunday that Horton was transferring to Georgia. Miami has been able to overcome the losses of Achempong, Horton and Wayne with the best 2024 DL class, the addition of high-level transfers and another strong class upfront in 2025.