Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs has wasted no time turning heads in training camp so far. It is safe to say that his mouth runs nearly as fast as his legs do.
The Raiders made it clear that Ruggs’ blazing speed was the deciding factor for them making him the first wide receiver off the board with the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has now managed to follow through on the hype with some highlight grabs in practice already.
Aside from being tasked with revamping the receiving corps, Ruggs has also had the chance to show off his charismatic side after he was recently mic’d up at camp. Whether he was giving his coach tips on the best juice or torching cornerbacks in one-on-ones, it was all in a day’s work for the rookie.
Ruggs’ speed was well-represented in Madden 21 after being named the second-fastest player behind Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Although he is confident about already being faster than Hill, it is only a matter of time before he will have a chance to solidify that notion in the 2020 NFL season.
For now, the onus will fall on Ruggs to get up to speed with his role in head coach Jon Gruden’s offensive system. The restrictions placed in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have only increased the learning curve for rookies trying to get properly acclimated to life in the NFL.
Fortunately, all signs are pointing to Ruggs being as good as advertised with his skill set as a bonafide playmaker. Perhaps one of the more intriguing aspects of the video was how much praise he had for wide receiver Hunter Renfrow’s route-running ability. It will be interesting to see how the pecking order shakes out for this group come Week 1.
