Edge rusher Rueben Bain was the only Miami Hurricanes player named in the Top 100 players of the 2023 season by ESPN on Wednesday. Bain had an exceptional true freshman season that culminated with being named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Bain had 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 2023. After recording only two tackles, one TFL and one sack in the first three games, Bain was a dominant player for most of the rest of the 2023 season. Bain started the final 10 games of the 2023 season.

Bain had a season-high eight tackles, two TFLs and season-tying two sacks versus Clemson. A week later versus Virginia, Bain had seven tackles a season-high 2.5 TFLs and tying 2.0 sacks. Bain led the Miami defensive linemen in tackles, TFLs and sacks in 2023. Miami had to play Bain early after injuries on the DL.

Miami lost edge rushers Nyjalik Kelly and Akheem Mesidor early in the season. Those injuries provided an opportunity for Bain to earn first teams snaps. Miami will be deep on the defensive line in 2024 with Kelly and Mesidor expected to return and an elite group of signees at the position.

After being named third-team All-ACC in 2023, Bain should be preseason All-Conference in 2024 and an All-America candidate. Bain was a freshman All-American in 2023 who was joined on the team by Miami punter Dylan Joyce and right tackle Francis Mauigoa. Miami should have 2024 freshmen All-American candidates.

Five-star defensive tackles Armondo Blount and Justin Scott and four-star edge rushers Booker Pickett Jr., Marquise Lightfoot and Elias Rudolph all have a chance to make an impact for Miami as true freshmen in 2024 The Miami DL can be dominant over the next two seasons.