No one has been around the game of football longer than Greg Cosell.
The accomplished author and executive producer for NFL Matchup on ESPN has served as senior producer of NFL Films for 41 years.
He has studied game tape of players at every position and provides a fresh perspective, in terms of analysis when he’s featured as a guest on a show.
Cosell joined Adam Schein on Friday via Mad Dog Sports Radio and discussed the class at wide receiver for the NFL Draft. Although he agrees on Jerry Jeudy of Alabama being the best of the group, Cosell is also very high on Henry Ruggs III.
For someone who ended his career with 24 touchdowns and 1,716 yards on 98 catches, Cosell said the Montgomery (Ala.) native was a ‘far better route runner’ than people give him credit for – due to the fact of him being so fast.
Stylistically, Cosell said Ruggs reminds him of Issac Bruce.
ICYMI: @gregcosell tells @AdamSchein he believes this wide receiver draft class is “Jerry Jeudy and everybody else” & gives a stylistic comparison for Henry Ruggs pic.twitter.com/4X2puoAePV
— Mad Dog Sports Radio (@MadDogRadio) April 3, 2020
Bruce, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., played 16 years (1994-09) in the NFL – including 14 with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams from 1994-07.
He was selected in the second-round of the 1994 NFL Draft and collected eight 1,000-yard seasons.
Despite fielding the offense known as the “Greatest show on Turf” with Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Torry Holt, Bruce was the quiet assassin. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, he led the league in receiving yards (1996) and helped the franchise capture its first Super Bowl championship in 1999. Bruce caught 77 passes that season for 1,165 yards with 12 scores.
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He stands as the most prolific receiver in Rams’ history and is a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Bruce’s career ended with 15,208 yards and 91 scores. Ruggs’ body structure (5-11/188), hands and 40-time all measured out better than Bruce’s at the NFL Scouting Combine; however, their playing styles are similar. The former five-star projects as the second receiver to come off the board.
Ruggs may be a perfect fit for the New Orleans Saints at No. 24 overall, but keep your eyes on the Las Vegas Raiders at the 12th overall pick.
No matter where he goes, Ruggs will be fun to watch.
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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.
