Hurricanes’ ‘monster’ freshman Rueben Bain generating hype before first college season
CORAL GABLES — Rueben Bain’s first time playing at Hard Rock Stadium went similarly to all the times he suited up for games on other fields around Miami-Dade County.
The freshman defensive lineman and former South Florida high school standout notched a pair of sacks in the Hurricanes’ open scrimmage on Saturday, validating the praise he has gotten from teammates and coaches since he arrived at UM in the spring.
“A complete monster. He is,” coach Mario Cristobal said. “The best thing for him is — this puts in perspective — he came in and was banged-up. He throws his body around when he plays football. A tremendous player (and) competitor. It’s what you want at Miami, all day. Rueben Bains all day.”
Bain, who earned the nicknamed “Hurricane” when he was younger, came to Miami from nearby Miami Central, where the star defensive lineman made a name for himself as he helped lead the Rockets to four consecutive state titles. He had 58 1/2 sacks in his last two seasons of high school. Bain was rated a four-star prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings and was listed as the No. 11 edge rusher in the class.
As Bain prepares for his first college season, he appears to be getting better. Coach Mario Cristobal said the freshman has gained 20-25 pounds since arriving and has made huge progress in the gym.
“Rueben Bain was benching about 250, 275 and weighing about 260,” Cristobal said. “He’s now weighing 280, 285, and he’s benching 400-plus pounds.”
If you ask Miami offensive lineman Jalen Rivers, Bain is already showing noticeable improvement on the field in addition to the weight room.
“I’ve been going against him ever since spring,” Rivers said, “and he’s just elevated his game. … He made sure to work on many things, learning from what he did in the spring, going into the summer. He’s a very talented guy. He’s (a) finesse-type of player. … He uses his hands a lot, and he has that speed, the power, too.”
Bain, who was named to 247Sports’ preseason true freshman All-American team on Thursday, was particularly impressive late in Saturday’s scrimmage, keeping his energy even as the Hurricanes completed a two-hour outdoor practice in hot, humid South Florida.
“That dude goes like a vet,” defensive lineman Branson Deen said. “It’s hard to find a freshman that can sustain that level of energy and that level of aggression. We ended with two-minute (drills), and he had some crazy rushes, full speed. He’s a seasoned vet already, and he’ll only get better.”
Bain has shown Miami’s coaches that his skills will likely translate to the college level. He has impressed the staff with his eagerness to take their advice and quickly institute what he has learned. The result is Bain could be making big plays in opposing backfields in just a few weeks.
“Explosive, fast, so smart,” Cristobal said. “He’s a one-time correction guy. If you correct it, he’s on to the next play, doing it the right way. He holds himself accountable. He’s natural leader. Just got a super bright future, but he also has a super bright present moment. He’s going to be an impactful player for us this year.”