2020 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Henry Ruggs

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Henry Ruggs III, 6-1/192 Wide Receiver Alabama

Henry Ruggs Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Elite speed

Extremely fast

Rare speed

Play-maker

Home run hitter

Forces teams to keep a safety deep

Impacts game plans

Quick release off of the line

First-step quickness

Stretches the defense

Explosive out of cuts

Threat to score on any touch

Quality route-runner; sudden out of breaks

Can defeat double teams

Good athleticism

Quality blocker

Experienced; ready to contribute quickly

Excelled against elite competition

Dangerous returner on special teams

Potential to be one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL

Weaknesses:

Not big

Already had at least one concussion

Can have minor bouts of drops

Not a big catch radius

Not a receiver to win 50-50 passes

Summary: Ruggs went under the radar somewhat because of Jerry Jeudy and other Alabama play-makers, but Ruggs was a dangerous receiver who produced big plays throughout his time at Alabama. In 2018, he totaled 46 receptions for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. Ruggs stayed consistent as a junior despite the injury to Tagovailoa and the Crimson Tide spreading the ball around to their amazing group of receivers. Ruggs had 40 catches for 746 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019. He could have been the No. 1 receiver at Alabama if he had returned for his senior year, but Ruggs made the jump to the NFL, which was wise given he is likely to be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The first attribute that jumps out about Ruggs is his extreme, game-breaking speed. Immediately as a rookie, Ruggs is going to be one of the fastest wideouts in the NFL and have the ability to stretch defenses vertically and take the top off a defense. He is lightning-fast while running deep along the sideline, deep post routes, or deep crosses. His sheer speed makes it very difficult for defensive backs to run with him. While Ruggs’ route-running and hands aren’t elite, they are fine for a speed receiver, plus he is a willing blocker.

In the NFL, Ruggs may not be a high volume wide receiver who produces massive reception totals like a DeAndre Hopkins or Michael Thomas. Ruggs is not a possessional receiver, so he could produce a smaller reception total but provide a high yards-per-reception average and plenty of big plays. Aside from those big plays, Ruggs will make an impact on snaps when he doesn’t get the ball as he will cause defenses to have to account for his deep speed, and that can open up the underneath for other wideouts and the rushing attack. Ruggs also brings added value as a returner on special teams, but his NFL team will probably use him sparingly in that role to protect him from injury. However in critical situations, he could be a special teams asset.

Ruggs is worthy of being a top-25 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He should be a game-changing receiver if he stays healthy as a pro.



Player Comparison: Will Fuller. Ruggs reminds me of Fuller coming out of Notre Dame in 2015. Both have elite speed and can be devastating play-makers. Fuller (6-0, 184) and Ruggs are almost identical in size with game-breaking speed.

2020 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2020 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Trey Adams, OT, Washington Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State Cam Akers, RB, Florida State Bradley Anae, DE, Utah Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU Jordyn Brooks, ILB, Texas Tech Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn Joe Burrow, QB, LSU K'Lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame Nick Coe, DE, Auburn Lloyd Cushenberry, C, LSU Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn Ashtyn Davis, S, California Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama Grant Delpit, S, LSU Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne Troy Dye, LB, Oregon J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State Jacob Eason, QB, Washington Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU Jon Greenard, DE, Florida Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA Robert Hunt, G, La.-Lafayette Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn Austin Jackson, OT, USC Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah Josh Jones, OT, Houston Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma Walker Little, OT, Stanford Jordan Love, QB, Utah State Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama Zack Moss, RB, Utah Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri Patrick Queen, LB, LSU Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson Trey Smith, OT, Tennessee D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

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