The natural comparison was already obvious for Rueben Bain Jr. — a consensus All-American who dominated the defensive line at the University of Miami, slipped unexpectedly in the draft, and landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the middle of the first round. That described Bain two weeks ago when Tampa Bay happily selected him at No. 15 overall, but the same scenario unfolded 31 years earlier for a former Hurricane great.
When Bain arrived at the Buccaneers’ rookie minicamp on Thursday wearing a black retro No. 99 jersey of Warren Sapp — a first-ballot Hall of Famer — it was more than just a nostalgic gesture. It was a display of his confidence and a signal of the excitement his new team has about his potential.
“He’s got an old soul, so to speak,” head coach Todd Bowles said after Bain’s first practice on Friday. “He understands his lineage. He knows the players who came before him. There are a lot of great players from the University of Miami… He knows how to pay respect to those who paved the way and has tried to model his game after them. He’s a very smart player, not just a tough one. He understands what he’s stepping into and what he wants to become.”
As Bain was fitted with his first NFL helmet, he made a video call to Sapp, whom he had known from his time at Miami. The conversation highlighted the connection between one of the greatest players in Buccaneers history and the franchise’s future.
“It was a full-circle moment,” Bain said on Friday. He revealed that he and Sapp had exchanged texts after draft night, with Sapp reminding him that Tampa was “his city.”
Bain didn’t buy a new throwback jersey. Instead, a friend in Miami sent him a picture of an old Sapp jersey “in the back of his closet” — a jersey older than Bain himself. From draft night onward, Bain has brought a no-nonsense attitude. After waiting longer than most expected to hear his name called, he walked past the NFL selfie mirror set up for draft picks, grabbed the Buccaneers hat without even pausing, and moved on.
On Friday, given his first chance to step onto an NFL practice field in his own new No. 3 jersey, Bain allowed himself to smile and embrace the excitement of this new chapter.
“I’ve been on Cloud Nine ever since I walked in,” said Bain, who recorded 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss last season, helping Miami reach the national championship game. “Just enjoying the process, enjoying where I’m at. I’m happy. I’m where I’m supposed to be. I’m with my friends and my team. I’m home. I can’t complain about anything.”
The Buccaneers were thrilled to land Bain at No. 15, as edge rusher was a major need and a key component of Bowles’ aggressive defense. General manager Jason Licht had not drafted a player from Miami in his first 12 years on the job, but he took two this year — Bain and nickel defensive back Keionte Scott in the fourth round — hoping to import the toughness and aura from their college success.
“I love that he’s very unique, where he’s got a great blend of power and athleticism,” Licht said on draft night. “He can bend, he’s got get-off, he’s very powerful, he’s got very explosive not just athleticism, but powerful hands, powerful strength and he plays very edgy. He plays with a chip on his shoulder.”
Leading up to the draft, Bain was regarded as one of the top edge rushers in the 2026 class, with many mock drafts projecting him as a top-10 pick. FOX Sports draft analyst Rob Rang had him at No. 7 on his big board, third among edge rushers. Rang gave the Buccaneers an A-minus grade for the selection and a B grade for their overall draft haul.
Still, Bain faced criticism over his arm length — measured at 30 and 7/8 inches, shorter than most pass rushers. “Mike Tyson had short arms, too,” Licht quipped on draft night. But the Bucs trusted the dominance they saw on tape from Bain’s three seasons at Miami, where he totaled 20.5 sacks — one more than Sapp’s collegiate career mark.
