Ever since being selected with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft last month, Rueben Bain Jr.’s approval rating among his new Bucs coaches and teammates has soared higher and higher. But it’s not only those within the building who have raved about the former Miami standout-turned-Buccaneer.

Plenty of analysts within the football media space have praised Bain, spoken of his potential in Tampa Bay and hit back on any questions regarding his arm length. Some highly respected voices have spoken glowingly about the Buccaneers’ new young pass rusher over the last month or so.

Add former national champion head coach Ed Orgeron to the list, too.

Former LSU HC Ed Orgeron – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Jerome Miron

Orgeron, who helped lead LSU to a 15-0 record and a national championship in 2019, is no stranger to defensive linemen. That’s where his background is, having served as a defensive line coach during several stops in his coaching career. That included a stretch at Miami from 1988-1992, where he recruited and coached Bucs Ring of Honor member and Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp.

Now, Orgeron has twin sons, Cody and Parker, who are on the Hurricanes coaching staff as well. So, he spent some time around that program last year during its run to the College Football Playoff. And because of that, he got to see both edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor up close.

In an appearance on Pardon My Take last week, the former LSU head coach and now-LSU special assistant to recruiting and defense was very complimentary of both players, saying they got better and better as the season went on before singling out Bain’s performance against Ohio State in which he was credited with a sack and eight total pressures.

Bucs edge Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo by: Mikayla Oliveira – The University of Miami

“That’s what Mario [Cristobal] built that team around,” Orgeron said. “Bain and Mesidor were phenomenal football players, (but) even better workers. Jason [Taylor] did a great job of coaching them. I thought they got better as the season went on. I thought in Bain’s Ohio State game, he started revving it up a little bit. Those guys took over in the playoffs. It was great to see, especially their pass rush ability. Unbelievable.”

Ed Orgeron Isn’t Worried About Rueben Bain Jr.’s Arm Length

The one consistent knock that’s used against Rueben Bain Jr. is his arm length. That’s been well documented by now, hasn’t it? But what’s also been well documented is that the Buccaneers aren’t worried about it. Bain simply wins off the edge in other ways. That shows up constantly on tape, and it’s why the arm length subject is more of a debate than a clear, one-sided drawback.

Count Ed Orgeron among those who doesn’t have any concerns about the length of Rueben Bain Jr.’s arms. In fact, when he was asked about it, he compared the discourse around it to the pre-draft talk about his former quarterback at LSU, Joe Burrow, and his hand size.

“Remember they told Joe Burrow his hands were too small? Y’all remember that? His hands were too small, right? I think that can be overstated,” Orgeron said. “Sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong. With this guy [Bain], he’s a football player. He’s a baller. I don’t know why he dropped to Tampa Bay. I thought he was going to go top 10. But I thought Tampa Bay did a great job of drafting him. He’s in a great place. I think he’s going to have a great career.”

Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Buccaneers were plenty surprised that Bain fell to them at No. 15, too, but they’re thankful he did.

By all accounts, Bain is off to a roaring start in Tampa Bay. He was a show-stealer at rookie mini-camp. His reps during the team’s OTAs have already been turning heads. And soon enough, it’ll be time for him to strap up the pads and get to work on his first NFL training camp.