Auburn football closing in on 4-star edge Rueben Bain

The Auburn football team has been struggling mightily this year, and injuries at different positions are surely not making things any easier. In the Tigers’ matchup with LSU, edge Eku Leota injured his pectoral muscle and will be out for the remainder of the season. Similarly, Derick Hall got a little banged up versus Georgia, which could slow him down against the Ole Miss Rebels this weekend.

The edge position is the thinnest position group on the roster in terms of personnel, with only Dylan Brooks and Marcus Bragg playing behind Leota and Hall, making recruiting edges for next year a top priority for this coaching staff.

According to Jeffrey Lee of Auburn Live, 4-star edge Rueben Bain is now trending toward Auburn football, and could be close to making a decision:

"I think Auburn leads big for the Miami (Fla.) Central prospect, and I also think Bain could be close to making a decision. I believe it could happen before the end of the month, and that’s being conservative."

Bain, who is ranked as the #97 overall prospect and the #13 defensive lineman in the recruiting class of 2023, is the #21 recruit out of the state of Florida. Auburn’s biggest competition for landing the elite edge likely comes from Miami, Bain’s hometown school.

The edge visited the Plains for the LSU game and called the atmosphere in Jordan-Hare Stadium the best he’s ever seen. He was impressed by the defense and Eku Leota before his injury and values the opportunity to make an early impact for next year’s team.

Bain plans to be back on the Plains for either the Arkansas or Texas A&M game, but it’s possible that he commits to Auburn football before his return.

The 4-star edge plans to sign on Early National Signing Day in December and become an early enrollee at his chosen college next January.