Rueben Bain, Miami Central 4-star defensive end, set to trim list, feels 'genuine' connection to Miami
There may not have been a high school defensive end more disruptive anywhere in the than country than Miami Central High School, where Rueben Bain wreaked havoc on opposing backfields to the tune of 29.5 sacks and 48.5 tackles-for-loss.
So, it should come as no surprise that the 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive standout is hearing from many of the top schools in the country.
Despite all that attention, Bain said he is growing close to cutting down his list to a group of "five-to-seven schools."
And the bluechip prospect has got a few of those programs in mind.
Bain said Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Louisville, Miami, Oklahoma and Penn State have all made him feel comfortable so far, and that four of those schools are likely to get official visits in June: Alabama, Auburn, Miami and Oklahoma.
The Florida star recently took an unofficial visit to Louisville and came away feeling like he had a much better understanding of what the program is about.
“Everything was fine," Bain said. "I spent some quality time with the coaches. I just got really got to know the whole staff, so it was great going up there.”
He also recently visited Miami, which has put on the recruiting equivalent of a full-court press to keep him local at the collegiate level.
Given that Bain's nickname is "Hurricane," a moniker he inherited from his football-playing father, it may be a natural fit.
"It feels like they’re changing the atmosphere," he said. "Everything seems genuine now. Everybody wants to be at work now. It's a career, not a job. They’re passionate and it’s something they love doing. They all have the same mindset, which is to win.”
As a whole, the staff has been aggressive about staying in contact with the coveted Florida edge-rusher.
"It’s genuine," Bain said. "They are really showing that they want me at Miami. It’s a relentless effort, recruiting-wise."