Draft analyst blows off common complaint with Miami star Rueben Bain, Jr. in latest mock draft

The Hurricanes star was one of the first players off the board.

Craig Smith, JT Ruhnke
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Miami Hurricanes defensive end Rueben Bain, Jr. was one of the most dominant and productive players in college football last season. The junior edge rusher found himself consistently in opposing backfields, serving as an engine for the Canes to reach the College Football Playoff national championship game.

He totaled 83 pressures, which tied for the most on record for Pro Football Focus going back to 2014.

However, as for how he translates to the NFL, some experts have questioned where he has the arm length to be an impact edge rusher at the next level. He is expected to have arms that measure well short of the 33-inch length that teams look for. As such, some have projected him to move inside for an NFL team.

One draft pundit isn’t buying it though. A to Z Sports draft analyst JT Ruhnke thinks Bain, Jr.’s production against the best competition this year should quiet concerns about his measurements. He projects Bain, Jr. to go No. 2 overall to the New York Jets in his latest mock draft.

Rueben Bain, Jr. lands with New York Jets at No. 2 overall in recent A to Z Sports mock draft

“With no other quarterback close to a top-10 grade left on the board, the Jets’ rebuild patiently goes best player available. While the size limitations are a serious question, Bain’s production in the most important games of the season should be proof of concept enough.” – JT Ruhnke

The Jets make sense in the context of taking the best player available, because frankly, aside from Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, no one else was as dominating in college football last season. Against Texas A&M in the playoff, one of the top-rated pass protection units in the country, Bain, Jr. had eight tackles, three sacks, and a tackle for loss.

Sometimes players are just really good football players and can just play regardless of measurements. Unicorns, perhaps.

And we’ll see if the Jets or another team near the top of the draft agree with Ruhnke and take dominance and skill over an inch or two on the measuring tape.

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