Miami’s Reuben Bain Jr. didn’t end up falling far after he was revealed as the driver in a fatal 2024 crash weeks before the 2026 NFL Draft.
Bain, a defensive end and projected first-round pick, was selected by the Buccaneers with the 15th pick in the draft Thursday.
Just after his freshman season with the Hurricanes, Bain was driving a car on Interstate 95 around 4 a.m. when he collided with another vehicle and then hit concrete barriers on both sides of the road, according to The Read Optional.
Two of Bain’s teammates were with him in the car, and a third passenger, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, died after three months in a coma.
Once the details of the crash surfaced, that led to speculation about whether Bain’s value — boosted by his 9 ½ sacks, 15 ½ tackles for loss and country-leading 83 pressures during the regular season — could plummet ahead of the draft.
Some reports suggested that NFL teams had been aware of the incident ahead of time and, according to CBS insider Jonathan Jones, were “satisfied with Bain’s explanation,” but players have fallen before due to off-field incidents — and it was unclear, until the dominoes started falling in Pittsburgh on Thursday, whether Bain would be the latest.
“As her family, we remain deeply committed to honoring her memory in a meaningful and appropriate way,” the Betts family told The Read Optional in a statement.
“Destiny’s passing was the result of a tragic accident that occurred several years ago. While the loss remains incredibly painful for our family, we have worked hard to find peace and move forward. At this time, we are not seeking public attention surrounding this tragedy and respectfully request that our family’s privacy be honored. We also wish Mr. Bain the best as he continues his life and career.”
