Rueben Bain Gets Legend’s Endorsement
May 21st, 2026
Bucs rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain.
The Miami Mauler, Bucs rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain, has been compared to Warren Sapp, largely because of their shared college team and shared ties as a Tampa Bay first-round draft pick.
But it runs deeper than that. And that proclamation comes from Sapp himself.
The Hall of Fame defensive tackle, who spent nine years in a Bucs uniform (1995-2003), told The Rondé Barber Show he’s known members of Bain’s family for man years and Bain since he was a little kid.
Sapp was willing to compare Bain to himself “his motor, his cool, his drive.” But he noted that Bain still has to prove himself in the NFL.
Sapp laughed about his days as a college coach at the University of Colorado, where he couldn’t believe how coaches had to figure out if players loved football. That’s not the case with Bain, Sapp said.
“The thing that you really love about him is his motor,” Sapp said of Bain, noting the Bucs rookie has elite preparation, passion and love for the game.
“The sky’s the limit for [Bain],” Sapp said. ” We got some pieces inside to where we can get some push and now he can go to work. I expect big things from him. He’s going to have to learn the game, like everybody that’s in the trenches. It’s a lot more holding in the National Football League.”
Can Bain be a culture uplifter in Tampa? Sapp would put him there.
“I think this kid is a fire starter,” he said.
May 21st, 2026 at 9:30 am
Hopefully he gets some decent coaching. Looking forward to seeing him play
May 21st, 2026 at 9:42 am
We know Reuben Bain has a very high motor
But, so does guys like Yaya Diaby
We have to wait and see how he perform in the NFL
I think he will be a very good NFL player
But, all of this hype isn’t good for him
May 21st, 2026 at 10:01 am
Good, competent assessment from Sapp. No drooling drivel like you get from most of the “experts”.
May 21st, 2026 at 10:16 am
Hurricane bain let’s go baby he isn’t Yaya he thinks about the game more like kancy more of technician with a lot of power having both of them on the dline together with vea and Yaya can’t wait for the season to start.
May 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am
This is the guy I wanted in the whole draft. Watch as that QB the Rams took flame out. Mcvey will regret that pick.
May 21st, 2026 at 10:32 am
What a score in the draft. The field awaits for the pummeling of you foes. Welcome to Tampa Mr. Bain
May 21st, 2026 at 10:34 am
Loved hearing the backstory on how Bain chose the shape of his facemask. It’s what Gholston used to wear. Mean, nasty looking facemask, like an attack dog with a studded muzzle.
Hope this young man stays healthy this year and learns a ton!
May 21st, 2026 at 10:46 am
Bain is one terrifying dude.
May 21st, 2026 at 11:38 am
In the video where he’s checking out the “Bane” style face mask, the equipment guys doing all the talking. Would have loved to have heard Bain’s reaction to the face mask and whether he liked it or not. I’m hoping he wears it. Having only Bain where Bane’s face mask would be great, specially paired with a teeth/lip guard and worked well with the look.
My worry and simultaneously my respect is in the fact that Rueben could give a crap about how he looks or any of this stuff and just wants to focus on becoming the best and killing quarterbacks. Maybe Calijah can talk him into it. LOL
May 21st, 2026 at 12:51 pm
When you have certain guys that have to be accounted for it makes other guys jobs easier. One could say if Yaya had elite skills he could have made a difference, but did he have other players taking advantage? No, but I think with the addition of Bain and the others, if they stay healthy, Yaya and other guys will look a lot better. Haven’t watched any film on Diaby specifically so I don’t know how good his game really is, if he was taking too wide an arc, not strong enough, double teams, etc.
May 21st, 2026 at 1:29 pm
One of the things I’m excited about in 2026. Bain. Excpet I don’t think Bowles is going to use him right so we may have to wait until the next HC comes in to see him shine.
May 21st, 2026 at 2:02 pm
“ Sapp was willing to compare Bain to himself ‘his motor, his cool, his drive.’ But he noted that Bain still has to prove himself in the NFL.”
Sapp says he still needs to prove himself. That’s important.
Can someone tell me why Warren Sapp is NOT on this coaching staff???
May 21st, 2026 at 2:18 pm
Still want to see if he can have the same success on the outside, against NFL tackles, as he did in college…but I have no doubt he will eventually be elite inside & outside. That punch and hump move is a thing of beauty. And didn’t the experts say he didn’t have much bend? Sure looked like it OTA drills. Can’t wait to see what he looks like in TC against Tristan. Bet a lot of coaches will be wanting to see that as well.
We got him!
May 21st, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Honestly, I’ve got a very very good feeling about Bain. He IS A DOG and He IS what we’ve ALL been waiting for, for Far Too Long!
Bain, AS IS, gives me Long Awaited “Hope” for a dominant front defense. Normally I’d write “we’ll see”. But we’ve already seen… I suppose I can state it like this…. We’ll See what can happen under this coaching staff with “Proven DOGS” out there.
I suppose my concern is “how long will this coaching staff let them REMAIN Dogs”?
We’ll see…
May 21st, 2026 at 6:00 pm
@Ash: Hurricane Bain………………….AWESOME!!!!!!
May 21st, 2026 at 6:25 pm
Have not heard someone get this much hype since Tiger Woods and LeBron James…. hope he comes thru.
May 21st, 2026 at 7:03 pm
Bain isn’t listening to the hype. The guy is all business and carries a chip on his shoulder much like Sapp did. He felt disrespected for dropping in the draft and he will career that chip his whole career.
Saying the hype isnt good for him is nonsense. He’s not going to work any less due to what others say.
May 21st, 2026 at 7:51 pm
All of this hype is just plain stupid
Not one commenters on this site knows what defense we will be running
Reuben Bain has not even put on NFL pads yet
They don’t even know how Todd Bowles will be using Bain
Actually, they don’t know NOTHING
SMDH
May 21st, 2026 at 11:12 pm
You’re right Lakeland. Nobody (even boos) isn’t sure yet. So the ONLY option is to go with the averages of the OC and the DC have been to get a reasonable prediction. Right.
So the OC….. No way to actually tell since this will be the 5th OC in the last 5 seasons.
The DC however is an on going story. This IS year #5 under the same headcoach/DC… Plenty to judge by! Plenty of hard evidence as to the Very Likely outcome.
So anybody placing bets should feel confident and go ahead and bet the “under on the defense” and it’s leadership’s Highly Likely “same ole song and dance”… Smart money however would lean to the offense as having a SOLID SHOT at improvement with a Substantial Upgrade over last season’s leadership. Make that …. By A Mile and bet the Over. Can’t Miss advice.
May 22nd, 2026 at 10:40 am
The whole team is younger faster..Looking forward to this season Go Bucs! Sorry just not a negative Bucs fan ,you live for the next game ,season!