Rich Eisen met with one of the top defensive prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine, Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr., on The Rich Eisen Show. A transcript of their discussion is below:
Rich Eisen: You’re one of the top prospects in this entire draft. How are you feeling being here at the combine?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I’m doing great. I’m blessed and highly favored just to be here. It’s a wonderful opportunity. I’m ready to compete, ready to show I am who I am.
Rich Eisen: And who are you?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I’m Rueben B. I’m the top-rated guy in the draft. I feel like I’m the best player in my opinion, and I constantly show that and work for it.
Rich Eisen: Why do you think you’re the best player in the draft?
Rueben Bain Jr.: That’s what I do. It’s how I approach the game of football. I play all downs of football. I don’t just rush the passer. I don’t just stop the run. I even rush punts and field goals. I get everything done.
Rich Eisen: What have teams been asking you in interviews?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I had formal interviews the past two days. It’s regular football IQ questions—favorite plays of the year, favorite moments of my college career, teammates I’d bring with me, things of that nature.
Rich Eisen: What’s your favorite play of your college career?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I’ve got to say my interception. That was crazy. Something I always think of. If not that, my freshman year against Clemson—the second sack I had—or this year when I had a sack against Florida.
Rich Eisen: Why that second sack against Clemson?
Rueben Bain Jr.: That clip went viral. If you ask somebody who I am, that’s a perfect clip to show. It’s violent. It’s smart. Everything under the umbrella going on there.
Rich Eisen: Have you spoken to the Dolphins?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir.
Rich Eisen: So you wouldn’t have to go anywhere.
Rueben Bain Jr.: I wouldn’t. I’d probably just stay with my mom at her house.
Rich Eisen: Is your mom hoping for that?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I hope she is. Either way, she’s going to follow me. She followed me throughout the draft training process. I tried to get away and she came and stayed with me for a week. I know she’s going to be somewhere.
Rich Eisen: When did you realize you were good at football?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I always felt like I was good because I made plays in little league, but I realized I could take football serious around eighth grade.
Rich Eisen: What were you playing back then?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I was always on the line of scrimmage because I was bigger than everybody. I was about six feet tall, around 200–210 pounds at 13. I just looked like this. I fell in love with the game. I’d watch clips on YouTube and go practice whatever I saw.
Rich Eisen: Whose clips were you watching?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Von Miller, Khalil Mack. The ghost move—you couldn’t tell me I didn’t have a perfect ghost move at 13. I was always trying to learn football the right way and practice what worked.
Rich Eisen: What did you show people in the College Football Playoff?
Rueben Bain Jr.: That I’m the best defensive player in the draft. The best in the country. You could see my energy, my motor, my want-to, how I approach each game. No matter the odds stacked against us, I wanted to lead my team the right direction and have a dominant showcase.
Rich Eisen: What were you thinking when people said you didn’t deserve to be in the playoff?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I didn’t pay it any mind. I knew we were going to get in. I had a gut feeling. We put too much work in for it not to happen. I knew God had us in the right way, so once we got the opportunity, we seized it.
Rich Eisen: What’s it like having guys like Michael Irvin and Ray Lewis on the sideline supporting you?
Rueben Bain Jr.: It’s second to none. That’s the only experience you can get at Miami—Hall of Famers coming one after another to support you, guide you, and pay it forward. Even when we played Ohio State, Michael was like, “Y’all got to win. Y’all in my stadium.” That put it in perspective for me. We couldn’t lose.
Rich Eisen: Who’s in your inner circle?
Rueben Bain Jr.: First, my family. I have a huge family, but we’re tight. Every game I probably have 20 to 25 family members there, home or away. They support me in the best possible way and give me the energy I need to succeed.
Rich Eisen: How many interviews have you had?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Fifteen formal interviews.
Rich Eisen: Raiders? Jets? Cardinals? Titans? Giants?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir.
Rich Eisen: Browns?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir. That was actually my first one.
Rich Eisen: Wouldn’t you want to play with Myles Garrett?
Rueben Bain Jr.: That’s my favorite player. I’ve been watching him since I was 13. That would be an opportunity second to none. That’s who I watch, who I study.
Rich Eisen: Commanders? Saints? Chiefs?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir.
Rich Eisen: That’s top-nine territory. You’re going to be a top-10 pick?
Rueben Bain Jr.: God willing. Hopefully top five.
Rich Eisen: Let’s speak it into existence.
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir. You’re right.
Rich Eisen: You think you’d be worthy of the Raiders?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir. I’ve got the right mindset to uplift any team I go to. Me and Maxx Crosby would be a crazy duo teams would hate to see.
Rich Eisen: You want to be the number one pick, but beating Fernando Mendoza this time around would also be good, right?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I’ve got to get my get-back if I do. I just can’t let him go two.
Rich Eisen: What’s your opinion of him?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Great player. He’s from Miami, so he understands what football means to us. He’s bred different. He plays football the right way. Great person on and off the field. If you think he’s slow, he’s not. He’s got burners. He gets rid of the ball quick. There were times I thought I was getting home and the ball was already out.
Rich Eisen: Are you doing on-field drills here?
Rueben Bain Jr.: No, sir. Just interviews and meetings. It was a long season.
Rich Eisen: So everything at your pro day?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir. It’ll be worth the show.
Rich Eisen: Who else has met with you?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Dolphins, Rams, Baltimore, Detroit. It’s a lot of people.
Rich Eisen: Those teams might have to trade up to get you.
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yeah.
Rich Eisen: Great meeting you. Good luck the rest of the week.
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir. Thank you.
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Rich Eisen: You’re one of the top prospects in this entire draft. How are you feeling being here at the combine?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I’m doing great. I’m blessed and highly favored just to be here. It’s a wonderful opportunity. I’m ready to compete, ready to show I am who I am.
Rich Eisen: And who are you?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I’m Rueben B. I’m the top-rated guy in the draft. I feel like I’m the best player in my opinion, and I constantly show that and work for it.
Rich Eisen: Why do you think you’re the best player in the draft?
Rueben Bain Jr.: That’s what I do. It’s how I approach the game of football. I play all downs of football. I don’t just rush the passer. I don’t just stop the run. I even rush punts and field goals. I get everything done.
Rich Eisen: What have teams been asking you in interviews?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I had formal interviews the past two days. It’s regular football IQ questions—favorite plays of the year, favorite moments of my college career, teammates I’d bring with me, things of that nature.
Rich Eisen: What’s your favorite play of your college career?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I’ve got to say my interception. That was crazy. Something I always think of. If not that, my freshman year against Clemson—the second sack I had—or this year when I had a sack against Florida.
Rich Eisen: Why that second sack against Clemson?
Rueben Bain Jr.: That clip went viral. If you ask somebody who I am, that’s a perfect clip to show. It’s violent. It’s smart. Everything under the umbrella going on there.
Rich Eisen: Have you spoken to the Dolphins?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir.
Rich Eisen: So you wouldn’t have to go anywhere.
Rueben Bain Jr.: I wouldn’t. I’d probably just stay with my mom at her house.
Rich Eisen: Is your mom hoping for that?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I hope she is. Either way, she’s going to follow me. She followed me throughout the draft training process. I tried to get away and she came and stayed with me for a week. I know she’s going to be somewhere.
Rich Eisen: When did you realize you were good at football?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I always felt like I was good because I made plays in little league, but I realized I could take football serious around eighth grade.
Rich Eisen: What were you playing back then?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I was always on the line of scrimmage because I was bigger than everybody. I was about six feet tall, around 200–210 pounds at 13. I just looked like this. I fell in love with the game. I’d watch clips on YouTube and go practice whatever I saw.
Rich Eisen: Whose clips were you watching?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Von Miller, Khalil Mack. The ghost move—you couldn’t tell me I didn’t have a perfect ghost move at 13. I was always trying to learn football the right way and practice what worked.
Rich Eisen: What did you show people in the College Football Playoff?
Rueben Bain Jr.: That I’m the best defensive player in the draft. The best in the country. You could see my energy, my motor, my want-to, how I approach each game. No matter the odds stacked against us, I wanted to lead my team the right direction and have a dominant showcase.
Rich Eisen: What were you thinking when people said you didn’t deserve to be in the playoff?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I didn’t pay it any mind. I knew we were going to get in. I had a gut feeling. We put too much work in for it not to happen. I knew God had us in the right way, so once we got the opportunity, we seized it.
Rich Eisen: What’s it like having guys like Michael Irvin and Ray Lewis on the sideline supporting you?
Rueben Bain Jr.: It’s second to none. That’s the only experience you can get at Miami—Hall of Famers coming one after another to support you, guide you, and pay it forward. Even when we played Ohio State, Michael was like, “Y’all got to win. Y’all in my stadium.” That put it in perspective for me. We couldn’t lose.
Rich Eisen: Who’s in your inner circle?
Rueben Bain Jr.: First, my family. I have a huge family, but we’re tight. Every game I probably have 20 to 25 family members there, home or away. They support me in the best possible way and give me the energy I need to succeed.
Rich Eisen: How many interviews have you had?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Fifteen formal interviews.
Rich Eisen: Raiders? Jets? Cardinals? Titans? Giants?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir.
Rich Eisen: Browns?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir. That was actually my first one.
Rich Eisen: Wouldn’t you want to play with Myles Garrett?
Rueben Bain Jr.: That’s my favorite player. I’ve been watching him since I was 13. That would be an opportunity second to none. That’s who I watch, who I study.
Rich Eisen: Commanders? Saints? Chiefs?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir.
Rich Eisen: That’s top-nine territory. You’re going to be a top-10 pick?
Rueben Bain Jr.: God willing. Hopefully top five.
Rich Eisen: Let’s speak it into existence.
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir. You’re right.
Rich Eisen: You think you’d be worthy of the Raiders?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir. I’ve got the right mindset to uplift any team I go to. Me and Maxx Crosby would be a crazy duo teams would hate to see.
Rich Eisen: You want to be the number one pick, but beating Fernando Mendoza this time around would also be good, right?
Rueben Bain Jr.: I’ve got to get my get-back if I do. I just can’t let him go two.
Rich Eisen: What’s your opinion of him?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Great player. He’s from Miami, so he understands what football means to us. He’s bred different. He plays football the right way. Great person on and off the field. If you think he’s slow, he’s not. He’s got burners. He gets rid of the ball quick. There were times I thought I was getting home and the ball was already out.
Rich Eisen: Are you doing on-field drills here?
Rueben Bain Jr.: No, sir. Just interviews and meetings. It was a long season.
Rich Eisen: So everything at your pro day?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir. It’ll be worth the show.
Rich Eisen: Who else has met with you?
Rueben Bain Jr.: Dolphins, Rams, Baltimore, Detroit. It’s a lot of people.
Rich Eisen: Those teams might have to trade up to get you.
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yeah.
Rich Eisen: Great meeting you. Good luck the rest of the week.
Rueben Bain Jr.: Yes, sir. Thank you.
This article is sponsored by KashKick, one of the biggest apps in America. Give your free team a raise and get paid to browse, play games and answer surveys. Join today at KashKick.
https://kashkick.com/
