Henry James Ruggs III (born January 24, 1999) is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons. He played college football at the University of Alabama, where he was a member of the team that won the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. Ruggs was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
During his second season, Ruggs caused a car crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog Max. He was released by the Raiders the same day. On May 10, 2023, Ruggs formally pleaded guilty to a felony count of driving under the influence (DUI) resulting in death and a misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter. He was sentenced to serve three to ten years in a Nevada state prison.
Early years
Henry James Ruggs III grew up in Montgomery, Alabama. In the eighth grade, Ruggs was promoted to the varsity football team for the final two games of their season. He attended Robert E. Lee High School. Ruggs did not play high school football until his junior year and received his first scholarship offer after just his second game on the gridiron. As a senior, he had 38 catches for 639 yards in nine games. He scored 20 touchdowns: nine catches, seven rushes, three passes, and one kick return. Ruggs also played basketball and ran track in high school; his 100-meter dash time of 10.58 seconds is the Alabama High School Athletic Association's class 7A record. In 2017, 247Sports.com ranked Ruggs as the second-best high school football player in Alabama. Ruggs received scholarship offers from more than 20 colleges to play football; he chose the University of Alabama.
College career
As a true freshman at Alabama in 2017, Ruggs had 12 receptions for 229 yards and six touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2018, he had 46 receptions for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns. As a junior in 2019, he had 40 receptions for 746 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. During his junior season, Ruggs was also the team's primary kick returner and averaged 23.8 yards per return. His 24 total career receiving touchdowns places him third on Alabama's all-time leaderboard. On January 6, 2020, Ruggs announced that he would forgo his true senior year and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.
College statistics
Professional career
Ruggs ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine that was the year's fastest time by any prospect by .08 seconds, and it tied for the fourth-fastest ever at the event since electronic timing began in 1999. Ruggs' vertical jump was measured 42 inches, tied for second-best among wide receivers at the 2020 combine.
At the 2020 NFL Draft, Ruggs was the first wide receiver to be drafted. The Las Vegas Raiders selected him with the 12th overall pick, their first since moving from Oakland earlier in the year. Ruggs was also the Raiders' second consecutive first-round pick of a player from the University of Alabama, joining 2019 first round running back Josh Jacobs. On July 21, 2020, Ruggs signed a fully guaranteed four-year contract worth $16.67 million, with a team option for a fifth year.
2020
On September 13, 2020, Ruggs made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers, including making his first career catch. During Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Ruggs recorded his first 100-yard game, with 118 receiving yards, which included his first career touchdown, a 72-yard reception. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on December 15, 2020, and activated on December 24. Ruggs finished his rookie year with 26 receptions, 452 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in 13 games played.
2021
In the 2021 season, Ruggs had 24 receptions, 469 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in seven games.
Ruggs was released on November 2, 2021, following allegations of driving under the influence that led to a fatality. His two-season stint with the Raiders totaled 20 games, 1,197 all-purpose yards, and four touchdowns.
NFL career statistics
Personal life
Ruggs credits his friend Roderic Scott with encouraging him to play football in high school. Scott died in a car crash at 17 years of age, and Ruggs would honor him with a three-fingered salute after every touchdown because Scott wore number 3 on the basketball court. Ruggs' brother Kevontae played college football for Ole Miss in 2018 before transferring to East Mississippi Community College in 2019.
In April 2020, Henry Ruggs partnered with Three Square, a southern Nevada food bank, to donate meals to those in need because of the COVID-19 pandemic.