Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 2 Rueben Bain
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The Miami Hurricanes have massively reshaped the roster from a year ago with five primary offensive starters gone (QB Tyler Van Dyke, RB Henry Parrish, WR Colbie Young, OL Javion Cohen and Matt Lee) along with seven on the defensive side (DT Leonard Taylor, DT Branson Deen, DL Jared Harrison-Hunte, S Kam Kinchens, S James Williams, CB Jaden Davis and CB Te’Cory Couch).
50. RB JORDAN LYLE … 49. RB CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON … 48. DE COLE MCCONATHY … 47. S ZAQUAN PATTERSON … 46. TE CAM MCCORMICK … 45. NY CARR … 44. JUSTIN SCOTT … 43. OT Markel Bell … 42. RB AJAY ALLEN … 41. TE RILEY WILLIAMS … 40. OL MATTHEW MCCOY … 39. LB CAM PRUITT … 38. DT JOSHUA HORTON … 37. LB RAUL AGUIRRE … 36. S MARKEITH WILLIAMS … 35. S JADEN HARRIS … 34. QB EMORY WILLIAMS … 33. WR JOJO TRADER … 32. D’YONI HILL … 31. RAY RAY JOSEPH … 30. ISAIAH HORTON … 29. MARLEY COOK … 28. JAYLIN ALDERMAN … 27. JADAIS RICHARD … 26. SAMSON OKUNLOLA … 25. ELIJA LOFTON … 24. ELIJAH ALSTON … 23. DAMARI BROWN … 22. REESE POFFENBARGER … 21. ZACH CARPENTER … 20. SAM BROWN … 19. CJ CLARK … 18. ELIJAH ARROYO … 17. WESLEY BISSAINTHE … 16. DARYL PORTER, JR. … 15. DYLAN JOYCE … 14. MARK FLETCHER … 13T. TYLER BARON/MISHAEL POWELL … NO. 12 SIMEON BARROW … NO. 11 AKHEEM MESIDOR … NO. 10 ANEZ COOPER … NO. 9 JACOLBY GEORGE … NO. 8 FRANCIS MAUIGOA … NO. 7 ANDY BORREGALES … NO. 6 JALEN RIVERS … NO. 5 FRANCISCO MAUIGOA … NO. 4 XAVIER RESTREPO … NO. 3 DAMIEN MARTINEZ
Which brings us to our annual series breaking down the top 50 players on the current roster. As we go along on this list you’ll get an idea of the overall depth of talent on Mario Cristobal’s team this year as he seeks Miami’s second 10-win season in the last two decades.
Today we are at No. 2:
NO. 2 DL RUEBEN BAIN
Why He’s No. 2
Bain was the highest graded edge rusher by Pro Football Focus last year with an 82.2 grade, besting Clemson’s TJ Parker (77.0). And Bain was, of course, just a true freshman. Yes, he burst onto the scene in Year 1, emerging as a starter in Game 3 and never looking back. He was honored as ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, selected to the All-ACC Third Team and to every Freshman All-America Team. He had 37 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, the latter which ranked tops among all Miami defensive linemen and tied Francisco Mauigoa for most on the team. Per PFF Bain graded out the highest of any Miami defensive player with more than 15 reps at that 82.2 percent overall, and he had an elite 89.3 pass rush grade along with a 70.7 run defense grade and 53.1 tackle grade (noted missing eight tackles). He also had a team-high 45 pressures, 10 hits on the quarterback and 26 QB hurries. Now consider this: Since last year he’s added eight pounds of muscle and lost four percent body fat. Yes, he’s poised for a huge second season and will be joined by fellow ends Tyler Baron (touted Tennessee transfer), Akheem Mesidor (can also play DT, coming off injury) and Elijah Alston (Marshall transfer).
What he needs to do to move up this list
There’s only one spot higher than Bain on this list, and Bain’s likely to claim that No. 1 spot next year. He’s a guy whose motor is always revving at 100 percent and his lower body strength pushes linemen backward while he also has the athleticism to bend around the linemen and then explode into the quarterback. So there’s not much more he can do to move up this list other than continue to show the dominance we saw in 2023.
Realistic season objective
A double-digit sack season could be in store, which would be the first time that’s happened at Miami since Gregory Rousseau had 15.5 in 2019. Last year there were 15 players nationally that had 10 or more sacks, so it would be a big feat. Bain also could help Miami pass by its impressive 35 sacks of last year, which ranked 19th in the nation and was third in the ACC (2.69 sacks per game). It also will be interesting to see if Bain works inside a bit, since he can get some mismatches there in passing situations.
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