Rueben Bain arm length controversy explained: Why Miami's DE combine measurement is bad news for draft stock
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Rueben Bain arm length controversy explained: Why Miami's DE combine measurement is bad news for draft stock originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Miami EDGE Rueben Bain emerged as one of college football's most feared pass rushers during the 2025 season. But his physical traits -- namely shorter-than-average arms -- could scare off NFL sides come April's draft.
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Bain has the makings of a top-tier end rusher. His arm measurements were noticeably smaller than expected, however; the Hurricanes EDGE posted 30 7/8 inch arm length, far shorter than the vast majority of elite sack artists (Trey Hendrickson notwithstanding).
With that, here's a look at Bain's arm length figures.
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What is Rueben Bain's arm length?
Bain's arms measured in at 30 7/8 inches. His on-field production can't be denied. But few players with arms as short as his have found success in the NFL.
Bain's arms aren't just short. They're historically tiny. No pass rusher has posted arm measurements as short as Bain's and been selected in the first round since 1999.
Bain's arm length is not all that surprising. Teams have known he has sported smaller-than-average arms for the better part of a year. His explosiveness, pursuit and twitch make him an alluring candidate for sides desperate for pass-rushing success.
Nevertheless, the measurements are far from ideal for the Miami alum.
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NFL DEs with shortest arms
Here's a look at defensive ends who have posted similar arm measurements to Bain in draft combines past:
PlayerSchoolDraft yearArm lengthNate WilliamsOhio State201330 5/8"Tyree JohnsonTexas A&M202230 7/8"Ricky ElmoreArizona201131"Cheta OzougwuRice201131"Dean LowryNorthwestern201631"Wyatt HubertKansas State202131"Elijah PonderCincinnati202131"Markus GoldenMissouri201531 1/8"Jamie BlatnickOklahoma State201231 1/2"Carl LawsonAuburn201731 1/2"Romeo McKnightCharlotte202131 1/2"Kamalei CorreaBoise State201631 5/8"Jojo WickerArizona State201831 3/4"Brandon LangTroy201032"Jake BequetteArkansas201232"Trey HendricksonFlorida Atlantic201732"James LooneyCalifornia201832"JaQuan BaileyIowa State202132"Why is Rueben Bain's arm length a big deal?
Traditionally speaking, arm length is seen as an indicator of pass rushing success. It can help clog up passing lanes, a useful tool -- particularly for sides playing in zone coverage.
“Those long arms close up passing windows and all the different things that we asked them to do," Titans head coach Robert Saleh said, according the Sports Illustrated. "So it's really every position. Arm length is always a big deal.”
Shorter arm players tend to not play as upright as their longer arm counterparts. That could lend itself to a longer career. Bain's physical gifts -- arm length notwithstanding -- should put him in position to succeed at the next level.
Still, arm length is clearly a coveted trait among NFL front offices. Bain will have to overcome preconceived notions of shorter-armed rushers carve out a role in the league.
“In an ideal world, would you love to have a guy with long arms? Yeah, absolutely,” Green Bay Packers head coach Jeff Hafley said. “But I think there's other guys that have short arms and that are really good edge rushers (and) are really good inside.”
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Rueben Bain draft projection
Bain is currently projected to go top five in the NFL Draft. He's slated to go No. 2 to the Jets in TSN's latest mock draft.
"With no Oregon's Dante Moore to take as their next franchise passer, the Jets can pivot to a huge defensive need to better rush the passer for Aaron Glenn," TSN's Vinnie Iyer wrote. "Bain can take over games as a pass-rusher and kept boosting his stock as the Hurricanes' most impactful defender during their CFP championship run."
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