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Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III getting early opportunities to shine

Alabama photo by Robert Sutton / Alabama junior receiver Henry Ruggs III has scored five touchdowns this season, including four during the first quarter.
Alabama photo by Robert Sutton / Alabama junior receiver Henry Ruggs III has scored five touchdowns this season, including four during the first quarter.

Henry Ruggs III had a 45-yard touchdown reception on Alabama’s third play from scrimmage during last Saturday’s 49-7 dismantling of Southern Mississippi.

Wonder what took him so long?

Ruggs and early scores have gone hand-in-hand through the Crimson Tide’s first four games this season. The 6-foot, 190-pound junior receiver from Montgomery has four first-quarter touchdowns, including a 75-yard run on the first play from scrimmage in Alabama’s 62-10 rout of New Mexico State.

In a news conference Monday afternoon, Ruggs said offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian typically scripts the first 10 to 20 plays each game.

“You kind of visualize where you’re going to play and what plays you’re going to make,” Ruggs said. “We always discuss that as a group. We’ve got playmakers everywhere. Once we get the play call, we’re like, ‘Oh, this is the route that’s going to catch the touchdown.'”