Miami Hurricanes DL Rueben Bain: Film study, listening to coaches and older players key to quick impact

Miami Hurricanes true freshman Rueben Bain, Jr. is making quite an impact through the team’s first five games, and he has 1.5 sacks and is grading out the highest of any defender on the team per Pro Football Focus at an elite 86.9 percent.

Bain also was recently named to the midseason On3 True Freshman All-American team.

So it’s been a pretty quick, impressive start to his college career.

Is there a secret to his early success?

“It’s something just get in the film room, watch a lot of film, study opponents and listen to coaches, it’s all you can do,” Bain said. “Listen to older guys. … I always tell people `football is football.’ But definitely more acclimated playing more games, getting more snaps. I’m more comfortable, feel a little more experienced.”

Bain has played 163 total reps this year, and 31 of those were as a defensive tackle, per PFF. The team’s moved him around with some success as he’s noted with 14 pressures, nine QB hurries and 3 hits on the QB. He grades out at 78.6 in run defense, has a 79.8 tackle grade and 82.9 pass rush grade.

“We knew he was different – he challenges himself, challenges us, is a leader in our room as a freshman,” DT Branson Deen says of Bain. “I think it’s a surprise to the rest of the world that didn’t know about him – they do (know about him) now.”

Now Bain and this Miami team are looking to rebound off a rough first loss of the season, in stunning fashion to Georgia Tech after a late fumble instead of taking a knee cost the Canes the game.

“We took this lesson as a team – if we don’t come out on top of our stuff we get beat in any given game no matter who we play,” Bain said. “We have to stay levelheaded in the locker room, get ready for this week.”

Bain stressed that the team has total confidence in the coaching staff regardless of the mistake not to take a knee at the end of the stunning loss to Georgia Tech.

“The decision that was made, we’re not living in the past,” Bain said.

The next challenge is a huge one, as 5-0 North Carolina has one of the nation’s best offenses behind QB Drake Maye (considered a top NFL prospect) and a host of playmaking receivers plus a solid two-headed RB attack with Omarion Hampton and British Brooks.

“It’s the same challenge as every week, and that’s playing the game of football,” Bain said. “Drake Maye is a great quarterback, we have to go into the game and play the game to our standards and I feel we’ll be alight. We’re going against a great team at their house, just have to be level-headed, ready to work, ready to play.’

North Carolina ranks No. 9 in the nation in total offense, No. 11 in passing offense and No. 18 in scoring offense. The team’s also No. 2 in third down conversion percentage at 56.6 percent.

“We are looking forward to it, ready for the atmosphere, ready to make plays,” Bain said. “It’s another week, another opportunity, looking forward to it. We are ready.”

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