Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. is fighting off criticism about his arm length ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft by conjuring a comparison to the "Baddest Man on the Planet."
During a sit-down interview with NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe at Miami’s pro day on Monday, Bain mentioned how powerfully scary boxing great Mike Tyson was in his heyday when asked how he approaches the critics.
“Like Mike Tyson … he wasn't the tallest guy. He wasn’t the longest-limbed guy. But when you felt him, you felt him. You kept your distance," Bain said.
Much has been made of Bain’s arm length (30 7/8”), leading to questions about whether he’ll be as productive against longer NFL offensive tackles as he was in college. In three seasons with the Hurricanes, the Miami native generated 20.5 sacks, including 9.5 in 2025.
A consensus All-American and 2025 Ted Hendricks Award winner as the top defensive end in college football, Bain’s power is undeniable. The 21-year-old plays with violence, able to bully offensive linemen with a powerful chop and collapse the pocket. Owning the power of a defensive tackle, he can explode into blockers and his ferocity often surprises opponents.
The lack of length and initial get-off might lead to some pre-draft questions, but in addition to the power, Bain brings versatility to offset the issues. He has the flexibility to slide inside on pass-rush downs, where he can use that power. Monday, he also flashed some ability to drop in coverage if required.
"My versatility. Most people didn't know I could just drop in coverage and move around like that,” he said when asked what he wanted to show scouts at his pro day. “Track balls, do anything I'm asked. I feel like I'm a versatile player, and that's what I showed today. Just knowing that I'm at a new weight, a new body type, a new style, and I'm just the same player. No matter what I'm doing, I can do anything in the game of football."
Bain said he’s currently at 265 pounds, which he views as his playing weight. There are zero questions about his commitment to greatness entering the NFL. One example coaches used to underscore his focus on football was his lack of care about even something as simple as getting a haircut.
"Ball is real important, man. This is what I do each and every day,” he said when Wolfe brought up the haircut quip. “I'm just so fortunate to wake up and play football for a living. Thank you to God. But this is an opportunity I don't take lightly, so I give my all to football 'cause football gave its all to me. Each and every day, waking up, making sure this is one of the priorities for me, if not God or my family. Understanding what I've got in front of me and never taking it for granted.
"Football's been so good to me, so I could give a damn about a haircut. All I want to do is know what team I'm going to so I could get right."
Bain is a top-10 prospect, ranked No. 7 overall on NFL Network Draft Analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s latest top 50 draft rankings.