Mel Kiper predicts Rueben Bain Jr. is 'going to go pretty high' in 2026 NFL Draft

It’s never too early to talk NFL Draft, and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper relishes the opportunity. Talk to him about Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain and he gets an extra glimmer in his eye as he chimes in.

Bottom line: He thinks the Miami prospect is just about as good as they come in this draft class. He explained to co-host Field Yates on a recent episode of First Draft on ESPN.

“Let me say this, you want to watch a guy that’s going to impress you for the draft, watch Rueben Bain Jr,” Kiper said. “He’s healthy now. Field talked about last year, I kind of throw last year out. He had the hamstring and he missed some games and he wasn’t healthy.”

Bain saw his production tail off considerably as a sophomore due to that injury. After logging 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2023, those numbers dropped to 23 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks in 2024.

It’s been different this year. Through just three games, Bain is already creeping toward last year’s numbers.

“He even said football is fun again, because he knows he can play to the level of his talent and the level of his ability each and every week, and he’s exactly done that each and every week,” Kiper said. “He’s been a guy that hustles like no other. Nobody chases, no defensive lineman in the country works as hard as this kid to get ready for a game as hard as Rueben Bain Jr. does. And once the game kicks off and we start it, he doesn’t quit on a play.”

Kiper outlined a few of the qualities that have made Bain a top-notch NFL Draft prospect. He explained.

“His stamina, his endurance, his rip move is phenomenal to watch. He’s got bend,” Kiper said. “He’s leading them in tackles. That tells you about production, that tells you about, hey, just all-out hustle. And guess who’s coaching him, with all that Rob Ryan coaching Eric Gentry at USC. Jason Taylor is coaching Rueben Bain Jr. And Jason Taylor says, ‘Hey, I’d like to get out of the building at some time and Rueben Bain Jr. won’t let me leave because he’s asking question after question.'”

For Kiper, all Bain really has to show this year is continued production. He needs to prove that his sophomore year was the aberration, not the norm.

So far so good in 2025. Bain has been a monster.

“This is the kind of kid from a talent standpoint, OK, production… what’s the production?” Kiper said. “He’s got the ability, he’s healthy. He had a hamstring, he played through it last year. Go back to his first year, his freshman year, 7.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for a loss. He was the top defensive lineman in the entire country in that conference of the ACC. Now he’s healthy and he’s wreaking havoc again.

“Because he doesn’t quit he’s over intercepting a pass, he’s over doing this. He’s doing things because he chases and he hustles on every single snap that he’s involved in. Rueben Bain Jr. is going to go pretty high. Until everything’s over not going to jump to conclusions of how high. He’s a first-round player. He’s probably a high first-rounder after all is said and done. He’s playing as well as any defensive end in college football right now. Watch him. Watch this kid at Miami because every play there’s something he’s going to do that’s going to make you go, ‘Wow.'”