Former Alabama football star Henry Ruggs III recounts why he chose to play for the Crimson Tide (Video)

Wide receiver Henry Ruggs III explains why he chose Alabama 

Alabama has been one of the best programs at recruiting since Nick Saban won his first national title with the Crimson Tide in 2009.

Many assume that Alabama is able to maintain such great recruiting prowess due to the fact that they are a college football powerhouse. And while that certainly does play a role, former star wide receiver Henry Ruggs III offered a more personal perspective on what drew him to commit to the Tide.

As a high school prospect, he was a four-star wide receiver ranked as the No. 75 prospect in the country and No. 11 wide receiver, according to 247 Sports. He received offers from various big-time programs, like Auburn and Florida State, but he ultimately decided to commit to Alabama.

Ruggs then played two great seasons for the Tide in 2018 and 2019 where he amassed over 700 receiving yards in both seasons, and a career-high 11 touchdown receptions in 2018. After his time in Tuscaloosa, Ruggs was drafted with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Raiders and became the first receiver selected.

Alabama released a video of Ruggs detailing why he chose the Tide

Although many remember Ruggs for what he did on the field, the Tide posted a video to their Twitter account where Ruggs talks about why he chose to play for Alabama.

“Just through recruiting, you know the relationship you build with the guys and the coaches, everybody felt like a family feeling,” Ruggs said in a video on Alabama’s social media. “When it came down to it, it felt like the best place for me. It felt more comfortable for my family and it was closer to home. Just having that home feeling within myself and my family, I mean, you can’t go against that.”

Ruggs also reminisces about his favorite memory while he was a member of the Tide, which is the infamous 2018 National Championship game comeback when Ruggs was a freshman on the team.

“My favorite memory was freshman year, that national championship game,” Ruggs said. “Going into the half, I’m mad of course because I feel like I need to be playing more. Just to see that freshmen class step up and make plays. Just seeing everybody contributing. When we went back into the meeting room, Coach said this is probably the best freshman class we’ve ever recruited.”

But as Alabama mounted a comeback and emerged victoriously, Ruggs said that he was very proud of all the freshmen who contributed to the victory.

Many fans get the feeling that Alabama is just a football machine, and the whole program has a sort of impersonal aura as a result. But it is certainly interesting to see a more genuine, personal perspective on the program.

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