Rueben Bain Jr.’s arms measured 30 7/8 inches at the NFL Combine, and that number immediately sparked the same old question: could NFL tackles use their length to keep one of college football’s most disruptive defensive linemen in check?
A few weeks into training camp, Tampa Bay looks plenty happy with the answer. The Buccaneers took Bain No. 15 overall, and he has wasted little time making that pre-draft concern feel minor.
The clearest proof came Wednesday in the second joint practice with the New York Jets, when Bain was credited with three sacks. Quarterbacks can’t be hit in joint practices, but Bain was still living in Smith’s backfield and applying constant pressure.
That was no small thing against a Jets front that has been built up at tackle. New York drafted Armand Membou No. 7 overall in 2025 and Olu Fashanu No. 11 in 2024, and Bain was getting the better of Membou, including on a late sack during the Jets’ two-minute period. Membou was also flagged for holding on the play.
Bain’s strong showing may also keep Hurricanes fans from seeing much of him on Friday night. Todd Bowles said Bain will play “not much, if at all” when Tampa Bay opens the preseason against New York. Most of the Buccaneers’ starters are expected to sit after the heavy work they got in the two joint practices.
If Bain does take the field, the most likely matchups would come against the Jets’ tackles. One name worth keeping an eye on is Anez Cooper, a Canes connection who was selected No. 188 overall in the sixth round and is battling for a role behind a more established starting group as New York starts rotating its line.
Tampa Bay also has Keionte Scott, another fourth-round pick at No. 116 overall. He has been moving all over Bowles’ defense in camp, taking snaps at nickel, outside corner and safety. Unlike Bain, Scott is not listed as a starter and stands to gain much more from preseason reps as the Buccaneers continue sorting out where he fits best.
And there’s one more former Hurricane in the mix: veteran edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad. He played at Miami in 2013 and 2015 and is coming off a career year with Detroit, where he posted 11 sacks and 20 quarterback hits.
In Other News...
Miami Fans Just Got A Troubling Update On Three Canes Players
A few lingering questions around Miamis roster were cleared up this week, but not in the cleanest way for Hurricanes fans. CanesInSight insider Danny Hernandez offered an update on three players whose situations had been the subject of plenty of chatter, and the picture that emerged was a mix of uncertainty, legal issues and a rumor that had gotten ahead of the facts. For a program that is already under the microscope, it was the kind of news cycle that keeps people checking for the next development.
Cam Vaughns situation remains unsettled while his transfer process plays out, and Jordan Lyle continues to practice with the team while dealing with a legal case that includes felony charges. The other name drawing attention, JaBoree Antoine, was at the center of a season-ending injury rumor that Hernandez said was misreported and only a half-truth, leaving Miami supporters with one more item to sort through as the story around these players keeps unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Which Hurricanes Legend Deserves Miamis Next Retired Number
The discussion around retired numbers at Miami always seems to resurface when another former star starts getting his due somewhere else, and that is no accident. The Hurricanes have long treated jersey retirement as a rare honor rather than a routine gesture, which is part of why the schools football history still carries so much weight whenever the topic comes up. With a formal policy in place, Miami has made clear that not every standout gets that kind of recognition, only the ones who truly shape the programs identity.
That selective approach also keeps the conversation alive about which former Hurricane should be next to join that group. There are still notable names from Miamis proudest eras who could be considered for the honor, and the debate tends to sharpen whenever another program wrestles with what a number means and who has the right to wear it. For Miami, the question is less about whether the tradition matters and more about which legend has done enough to deserve the next spot in the rafters. [Read more 🡒]