American Football
Keionte Scott, Rueben Bain boost first-round draft stock at huge Miami pro day
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Prior to yesterday's pro day, the Miami Hurricanes were expected to have three former players hear their names called in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Rueben Bain Jr., Akheem Mesidor, and Francis Mauigoa may find themselves with company after a day headlined by cornerback Keionte Scott's sensational display.
Here are the top storylines after what went down at Coral Gables on Monday.
Keionte Scott puts the NFL on notice
Scott's decision to wait until his pro day to run theĀ 40-yard dash proved to be a shrewd move.
Scott clocked an official 4.33 - a time that would have ranked second-fastest among cornerbacks and third-fastest among safeties at the Combine.
The 24-year-oldĀ also posted a 44-inch vertical, which would have been the best mark among all defensive backs in Indianapolis.
He's not just an athletic phenom. Scott was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's best defensive back, after postingĀ 64 tackles, five sacks, and two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Megan Briggs / Stringer
Per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, Scott offers rare intangibles that NFL teams covet, describing him asĀ a player who 'brings culture-changing mentality and leadership'.
NFL insiderĀ Daniel JeremiahĀ had Scott as the No. 47 player on his draft board, but after a performance like yesterday's, Scott may well have forced himself into first-round consideration.
Bain channels Mike Tyson to answer his critics
On what was one of the most well-attended pro days, Rueben Bain made his case to become - or should that be remain - a top 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Reuben Bain Jr. arrived not only with a point to prove but withĀ a comparison ready.
The 21-year-old edge rusher has faced persistent questions about his arm length, measured at 30 7/8 inches at the Combine.
Doubters have asked whether shorter arms will limit him against longer NFL offensive tackles.
Bain brushed it off with one of the more memorable quotes of the pre-draft process.
Megan BriggsĀ /Ā Stringer
"Like Mike Tysonā¦ he wasn't the tallest guy. He wasn't the longest-limbed guy. But when you felt him, you felt him. You kept your distance," he told NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe.
The comparison is not without merit. Bain won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end and was a consensus All-American.
Furthermore, he generated 20.5 sacks across three seasons at Miami, including 9.5 in 2025 alone.
On Good Morning Football, available to Game Pass subscribers on DAZN, former NFL player Isaac Rochell implored NFL analysts to focus on Bain's production.
Here at DAZN News, we tend to agree. Bain is projected to go to the Chiefs with the No. 9 pick in our latest mock draft - short arms and all.
