Scouting Report: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama Crimson Tide

The Good About Ruggs

Speed is the most obvious strength for Ruggs. He is not just fast but he is also quick. This guy is a burner and if teams are not careful he will be a problem. He has a crazy first step that makes it even harder for corners to cover him. Ruggs constantly gets a great jump off the line immediately putting defenders at a disadvantage.

One of the more impressive traits that he has is his ability to stop on a dime. Multiple times on film he will run a hook route and he creates a great deal of space by being able to stop quickly. Ruggs shows great ball tracking skills. He is a scrappy run blocker with the corners he goes up against. He fights and usually does a decent job of blocking for his guys. After the catch, he is a tough runner. He is not afraid to lower his shoulder and get those extra yards.

The Bad About Ruggs

As far as weaknesses are concerned, Ruggs is a tad bit undersized. He’s not going to blow anyone’s mind with physicality. He is around 190 pounds and he doesn’t have a huge frame. Ruggs lacks the physical traits necessary to break through press-man coverage. He also lacks the ability to do well in 50/50 ball scenarios. Hopefully, he can bulk up when he gets into the NFL. Although he has a powerful first step he could work on his hand fighting techniques to help make for smoother releases off the snap. Considering that he has been surrounded by lots of talent at Bama he hasn’t gotten the most receptions or yards. He mainly was used at Bama for deep balls and intermediate passes. It will be interesting to see if he is able to establish himself as a number one receiver for an NFL team.

Pro Comparison

Desean Jackson is the comparison I have for Ruggs. Jackson out of college had very similar traits. He is an extreme deep threat, strong hands, and an impressive ability with the ball in his hands. I see the same in Ruggs. With time and work, I feel Ruggs can be as impressive as Jackson was in his prime.

Final Thoughts

I really like Ruggs as a late pick in the first round. His speed, strong hands, and home run threat make him a valuable pick for a team. Right now it is hard to see him as a number one receiver. I feel that he could easily make it as a number two receiver or a slot guy. Right now I do not see the size or strength to make it as a number one. Ultimately he will be a great contributor to a team. If he can work on and improve his weaknesses he has the potential to be like Desean Jackson or Tyreek Hill. Ruggs is a very impressive receiver and I will be excited to see if he can break the fastest 40-yard dash at the Combine.

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