Rueben Bain's stock is soaring to an all-time high leading into 2026 NFL Draft season

Pro Football Focus ranked Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. No. 2 on its PFF College Football 101 list of the top 101 players from the 2025 season. PFF also credited Bain with leading all players with 68 quarterback hurries.

Bain finished behind Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who PFF slotted No. 1.

PFF's list is built around its own grading and charting.

"Bain was dominant this season as both a pass rusher and run defender. The projected top-five pick led the nation in pressures (83), while his 86.2 PFF run-defense grade ranked ninth in the FBS. He also finished as the most valuable edge defender in the country, according to PFF's wins above average metric."

Max Chadwick (PFF)

Rueben Bain Jr.'s NFL stock is trending upward

PFF's early 2026 draft coverage has Bain as the top prospect on its big board, while ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. had Bain ranked No. 7 overall on his 2026 big board.

"Bain is powerful and has really strong hands. He routinely gets the best of some very good offensive tackles, often with his dominant rip move, and he knows every trick in the book in getting home to the QB. Bain also shows speed and bend off the edge, and he takes good angles. Plus, he can hold the edge against the run and get off blocks to chase down ball carriers. His tape is just filled with disruption. But even with all those A-level traits, it's actually Bain's hustle that really stands out to me. He never takes a play off and fires at the ball on every play."

Mel Kiper Jr.

In 16 games for Miami, Bain totaled 54 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He also logged 9.5 sacks, along with 30 solo tackles, one forced fumble and one interception.