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By Megan Armstrong
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Discussions about arm length are flooding the timeline.
That can only mean one thing: The 2026 NFL Combine is here.
Miami Hurricanes defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. emerged as a dominant force during the Hurricanes' run to the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship, which they lost to Indiana. The junior pass-rusher lived in opposing quarterbacks' nightmares to the tune of 54 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. Bain Jr. was also named the 2025 ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
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Despite his obvious get-off speed and pure strength, Bain Jr.'s purported arm length has generated skepticism about whether he can translate to the NFL level.
Bain Jr. shut down any doubts while speaking to reporters at the Combine in Indianapolis on Wednesday.
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"People keep bringing that up out of nowhere, but no teams brought it up to me, so I don't bring it up, either," Bain Jr. said, as relayed by ESPN's John Keim. "As long as I just talk the talk and walk the walk, play with technique, nobody actually cares about it."
The 21-year-old added, "It kind of surprised me because I never heard it all my life and I just ain't give it the time of the day honestly."
At the Combine on Tuesday, newly hired Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh told reporters, "Arm length is always going to be key" in his defense, but he spoke highly of Bain Jr. The Titans are slotted to pick at No. 4 overall.
"his tape is undeniable," Saleh said. "You know, he's an unbelievable football player. He plays with great violence. His football IQ is off the charts. So, you trust that a guy like him and his makeup is going to translate the way it needs to."
Several mock drafts project that Bain Jr. will go somewhere in the top 10. Long-time ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock from this week puts Bain Jr. with the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 10, whereas The Athletic's Ralph D. Russo foresees Bain Jr. going off the board at No. 2 to the New York Jets.
"Scouts are worried about his short arms and less-than-ideal build for an edge rusher, but Bain was a force against top competition all season and did not slow down at all in the College Football Playoff," Russo wrote. "Bain was one of the nation’s top freshmen in 2023 before his sophomore season was undercut by injuries, so it’s not as if he just popped in his final season. A higher sack total (9.5 in 16 games) would be nice to see, but five of those came during the Hurricanes’ four-game CFP run. Miami coaches rave about Bain’s professionalism."
Bain Jr. played all three of his collegiate seasons at Miami. He finished with 121 tackles (67 solo), 33.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one interception across 38 games for the Hurricanes.
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