A tragic accident and its aftermath cast a shadow over the star edge rusher's path to the NFL, sparking questions just days before the NFL Draft.
The NFL Draft is 10 days away, which will mark a new chapter in many prospects’ lives, including Rueben Bain Jr. He’s coming off an All-American season with the Miami Hurricanes: 54 total tackles, 30 solos and 24 assists, 15.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a pass broken up, two passes defended, and an interception in the home opener against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The star edge rusher earned other accolades, such as All-ACC First Team, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and the Ted Hendricks Award. Across multiple platforms, Bain Jr. is considered a top-10 prospect. However, a past tragic moment has come to light that could potentially change the trajectory of the Miami native’s NFL career before it’s begun.
On March 17, 2024, Bain Jr. was involved in a fatal car accident on Interstate 95 near NW 51st St., which was reported at 4:15 a.m. Alongside him were four other passengers: Hurricanes linebacker Wesley Bissainthe Jr., Destiny Betts, former teammate edge rusher Kelly Nyjalik, and Ladreama Roberts.
The crash report revealed that Bain Jr., who was the driver, was wearing a seatbelt and was given neither an alcohol nor a drug test. Despite leaving the scene without significant injuries, Betts was transported to the Ryder Trauma Center. She was a 22-year-old student visiting Miami from Georgia. Betts suffered incapacitating injuries and never regained consciousness. After three months in a coma, she was declared dead on June 13, 2024.
Roberts was transported to Jackson North Hospital, but didn’t suffer significant life-threatening injuries.
Bain Jr. was charged with careless driving, which was dismissed two weeks before Bett’s death.
The event resurfaced after a published newsletter written by Oliver Connolly for The Read Optional. Bett’s family released a statement on the story:
“Destiny’s passing was the result of a tragic accident that occurred several years ago. While the loss remains incredibly painful for our family, we have worked hard to find peace and move forward. At this time, we are not seeking public attention surrounding this tragedy and respectfully request that our family’s privacy be honored. We also wish Mr. Bain the best as he continues his life and career.”
Despite the recent trend to the public, multiple reports share that NFL organizations were already aware of the situation. There are no serious indications that the events will plummet Bain Jr.’s draft stock. The Hurricanes star is among the best prospects in the draft class and will be in attendance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He will likely be selected within the top 10, but the newsletter could raise certain levels of questions.
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