Louisville football makes the top 6 for coveted defensive end Rueben Bain. What he would bring to the table for the Cards, and what UofL’s chances of landing him look like.
The Louisville football defensive front has seen a marked improvement in pass-rush productivity from 2021 to this season.
Though Yasir Abdullah has yet to return to his dominant form from last season, defensive-end tandem Yaya Diaby and Ashton Gillotte have really started to hit their stride as the season has progressed.
Combined with Mason Reiger popping up as an unexpectedly productive rotational player, reducing the pressure on Yasir to carry the pass-rushing load on his own.
This highly productive pass-rush group currently leads the ACC in sacks and is tied for third in the nation. However, both Adbullah and Diaby are in their final year of collegiate eligibility. Abdullah’s replacement may already be on the roster depending on the development of Popeye Williams, but who will replace Diaby remains unclear.
See Also: Louisville football has a historically great pass rush defense in 2022
However, the Cards are firmly in the hunt for one of the highest-rated defensive ends in the class of ’23, Rueben Bain.
Bain is the No. 97 player in the 247Sports composite rankings and would be one of the best players to ever commit to the Cards.
A player of Bain’s caliber would be just the answer the staff are looking for.
Bain is a highly touted four-star defensive end who plays at Miami Central high school in Florida. You’d be hard pressed to find a recruit with a longer list of accolades.
In his high school career, Bain has racked up three MaxPreps All-American selections, 2 First Team All-State selections, Co-Defensive player of the year honors in his division and area, and compiled a ridiculous 29 sacks and 48 tackles for loss during his junior season.
His senior season is off to a hot start as he has compiled 11 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in only four games so far. Bain is the kind of game-wrecking defender that Louisville’s defense desperately needs.
What the film says:
Bain stands at 6’3 and 245 lbs. but has an impressive frame and would have no problem packing on additional muscle mass to hold his own in the trenches.
As a pass rusher he has been absurdly productive and is doing this in one of the most challenging divisions in high school football. He has a lightning quick first step which immediately forces offensive tackles back on their heels.
Bain has an impressive array of pass rush moves and has little trouble shedding blockers. He is more of a finesse player than a power player, but he still packs a punch when arriving at the quarterback. His tackling technique is sound and ball carriers rarely escape once he is engaged.
He has a nose for the disruptive play and is always a threat in the backfield. His effort is relentless, and he will chase down ball carriers 10+ yards downfield. His tape is a very fun watch and I highly recommend it.
There are not many knocks to Bain’s game – it’s easy to get excited about what a player of his skillset and potential would be able to do at the college level.
If I must nitpick, his size profile wouldn’t make him one of the bigger defensive linemen on the roster, which could make the run defense a bit more challenging against more sizable college linemen or tackles with longer arms.
He’s a good athlete but I wouldn’t say he has any “elite” athletic traits. These issues will likely not stop him from being a highly productive college player and he’d step in and make an immediate impact on the Louisville defensive line from day one.
Keys to Bain’s recruitment
As has been the case with all the Miami-area targets and commitments in #FlyVille23, Bain’s recruitment once again reminds the Louisville football fan base just how valuable of an addition John Herron has been to the recruiting staff.
Herron had a pre-existing connection with Bain before joining the Cards, as depicted in this tweet from Bain posted after his first visit to Louisville:
Getting Bain on campus in the first place is a major credit to Herron’s recruiting acumen in the Miami area.
To be included in his top 6 along with the likes of Alabama, Miami, Oklahoma, Auburn, and Florida State is a testament to the effort the staff has put into his recruitment and making the dynamic defender feel like a priority.
Landing Bain’s commitment is an uphill battle as Louisville football will have to fight off a host of national powerhouse programs. However, if the staff can somehow pull it off, Bain is the type of player who will be a day-one difference-maker for this Cardinals defense.
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