Rueben Bain Jr.'s first weekend in Tampa Bay came with more than a jersey, a draft cap and a new locker room. The former Miami Hurricanes star also got an early look at the kind of veteran support waiting for him with the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay's defense, along with star left tackle Tristan Wirfs, took Bain and his family out to brunch during his first weekend with the franchise.
The Bucs defense & Tristan Wirfs took Rueben Bain Jr. and his family out to brunch during his first weekend in Tampa Bay 🙌#WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/M7c6mUHQXH
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 29, 2026
Bucs veterans make Rueben Bain Jr. feel at home
Bain was selected by the Buccaneers with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after three seasons at Miami. Tampa Bay's front office did not expect him to still be available in the middle of the first round, and the excitement of making the pick carried into the weekend.
Bain finished the 2025 season as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American. He started all 16 games in 2025 and finished the season with 54 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one blocked field goal.
Bain had four tackles for loss, three sacks and a blocked field goal in Miami's College Football Playoff game against Texas A&M. He added a sack against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl and had eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack in the national championship game against Indiana.
Miami players drafted in 2026 NFL draft
- Francis Mauigoa, first round, No. 10, New York Giants
- Rueben Bain Jr., first round, No. 15, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Akheem Mesidor, first round, No. 22, Los Angeles Chargers
- Carson Beck, third round, Arizona Cardinals
- Markel Bell, third round, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jakobe Thomas, third round, Minnesota Vikings
- Keionte Scott, fourth round, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Anez Cooper, sixth round, New York Jets
- CJ Daniels, sixth round, Los Angeles Rams
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