Miami Hurricanes duo appears in top 10 in ESPN 2026 NFL Draft projection, and one of the two will need a bounce back year to justify it
The Miami Hurricanes aren't short of top-end talent entering an important 2025 season for Mario Cristobal. In fact, ESPN sees the Hurricanes as having two of the best players in the country based on their latest 2026 NFL Draft projection. NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller put out a mock draft for next year's draft, and […]
The Miami Hurricanes aren't short of top-end talent entering an important 2025 season for Mario Cristobal. In fact, ESPN sees the Hurricanes as having two of the best players in the country based on their latest 2026 NFL Draft projection.
NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller put out a mock draft for next year's draft, and two Hurricanes were named in the top seven picks. OT Francis Mauigoa went #2 to the New York Giants, and Rueben Bain, Jr. went #7 to the Las Vegas Raiders.
I think Mauigoa, with another strong season, should cement himself as one of the top offensive linemen – if not the top – to go. This is what Miller had to say about Mauigoa at #2:
Mauigoa enters his third college season as a player on the rise. After allowing five sacks during his true freshman season in 2023, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound right tackle didn't allow a sack last season and drew only three penalties. Mauigoa is best as a run blocker in a zone scheme, with quick feet and the agility to get to the second level. He'd serve as a replacement for disappointing 2022 first-rounder Evan Neal and join a youthful offense which also features 2025 first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart, star second-year receiver Malik Nabers and emerging running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Bain, Jr. at seven is one that surprises me a tad. Bain, Jr. had a whale of a freshman year back in 2023, notching 7.5 sacks and posting a pressure rate of 12.7%. However, he notched only 3.5 sacks in 2024 with a pressure rate of 11.8%.
This is what Miller had to say about Bain, Jr.:
Seven of the Raiders' 11 picks in 2025 came on offense, including five of the first six. So it's time to pick up a defense that has to face Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix twice per season. Las Vegas needs to find Maxx Crosby help on the edge, and Bain's speed-to-power ability could give it that Crosby complement. Bain has 11 sacks in his two college seasons, using his length to create space he can crash through with his trademark power. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain has the build and tools to make an immediate impact from the left edge.
Now, Bain, Jr. did suffer an injury in the season opening win against Florida and miss the next five weeks. However, he wasn't exactly the game wrecker the Hurricanes needed to help mask an abysmal secondary as Miami's defense completely fell apart down the stretch.
Still, numbers and production aren't the end-all, be-all for talent evaluators. After all, the Dolphins took Chop Robinson in the first round of the 2024 draft with him only having notched 11.5 sacks in 3 seasons. He rewarded their faith with a solid rookie season last year.
There's no doubt Bain, Jr. has special traits that will interest NFL teams, particularly with the strength, power, and ready-built NFL frame he possesses. But putting those tools together and turning in a bounce back season with an improved sack total and pressure rate from a forgettable 2024 season would go a long way towards seeing him walking up to hug NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the first night of the 2026 draft in Pittsburgh.
