Another feather in the hat of Tua Tagovailoa for the Heisman Trophy has been the way he has positioned a young group of wide receivers at Alabama to be record-setting players.
In his 12th season as the Crimson Tide’s head coach, Nick Saban has tutored some of the most elite weapons in college football – including Julio Jones, Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley; however, not even this trio accomplished what a tandem of sophomores has done this year.
Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III are re-writing records like clockwork and it will not be long before the duo, or at least one of the two, owns every mark in Tide history for receiving.
Video via Inside Bama Recruiting (Twitter)
#Touchdown @Tuaamann to @jerryjeudy #BamavsAU #CBS pic.twitter.com/pLBvc1Cpqp
— InsideBamaRecruiting (@RTRnews) November 24, 2018
Jeudy, Alabama’s leader in receiving through 12 games, is now third all-time in school history for receiving yards with 1,079 and tied for second in touchdowns with 11. He grabbed five passes in the Tide’s 52-21 win over Auburn for 77 yards, with his longest play going for a 46-yard score in the third quarter.
The Florida native is now six touchdowns shy of surpassing Cooper’s output of 16 in 2014, which currently stands as the single-season school mark.
As for Ruggs, his two scores versus the Tigers put him at 10 – tying the Montgomery (Ala.) native with former Tide star Al Lary (1950) for fourth all-time in a single-season.
Video via Inside Bama Recruiting (Twitter)
Touchdown! Alabama QB @Tuaamann To @__RUGGS #BamavsAU #CBS pic.twitter.com/CTXx9tHLc7
— InsideBamaRecruiting (@RTRnews) November 24, 2018
Ruggs’ ability to sustain toughness and top-end speed consistently in games has made him not just a popular target for Tagovailoa, but a topic of praise for Saban. The 67-year-old always discusses the product of Robert E. Lee High School and how well he competes each week.
Both guys will continue putting smiles on the faces of fans next weekend, as Alabama battles Georgia in Atlanta for a Southeastern Conference championship.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
