Todd Bowles was blown away by Rueben Bain Jr. on first day of Bucs rookie minicamp

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were like little kids on Christmas when they were able to draft Rueben Bain Jr. in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he’s been the gift that keeps on giving ever since. 

From his viral walk to the draft stage, to his passionate first comments as a Buccaneer, to showing up to sign his rookie contract wearing a Warren Sapp jersey, he’s become a fan favorite in record time. 

He finally got to step on the field for the first time as a Buccaneer for rookie minicamp on Friday, and to nobody’s surprise, he was one of the most impressive players on the field.

Todd Bowles comments on Rueben Bain’s first day of Buccaneers rookie minicamp 

After the Bucs rookies took the field for their first day of minicamp, Todd Bowles held a press conference. Naturally, Bain was a major topic of discussion. 

“He looked like he was in midseason form. Obviously, he’s from Miami so he’s going to be practicing in the heat where a lot of the other guys are going to struggle to adjust to this weather,” Bowles said. “It didn’t bother him at all. He came in in great shape, he ran around well and he kind of picked up some things very well.” 

Bowles is clearly excited by what he’s already seen from his first-round rookie. The pads haven’t come on yet, and they’re only running drills, but him showing up in game-ready shape and already learning from the coaching staff is an encouraging sign. 

Something about Bain’s first impression in Tampa Bay feels undeniably special. It’s reminiscent of Emeka Egbuka last year, where you could tell early on by the professionalism and demeanor he brought to Tampa Bay that he’d be a special player. 

Bain has done everything right so far. The organization and fan base are equally enamored with their shiny new toy, and Bain appears well on his way to becoming a cornerstone for the franchise.

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