"Future Chief," "He sped right through that": NFL fans react as Henry Ruggs graduates from Alabama with 4.0 GPA

Henry Ruggs has finally accomplished something after the self-destruction of his NFL career.

On Monday, the former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver was reported to have graduated from Alabama with a 4.0 GPA and a mention in the President's List. He had been attending his classes virtually while serving a prison sentence for a 2021 car crash that killed a woman and her dog.

And fan response to the development was divisive:

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Ruggs was recently moved to the medium-security Northern Nevada Correctional Center from Casa Grande, a minimum-security transitional housing center in Las Vegas. While no official reason was given, a spokesperson implied to 8 News Now that it might have happened because of a breach of institutional rules:

“We can’t disclose specific information on offenders. However, in general, an offender who commits infractions while at a lower-level custody, depending on the nature and severity, they could be reverted back to a higher level of custody.”

Before the transfer, he had been deemed a "community trusty" who was a low escape risk and less likely to break rules. He had been working at the Governor's Mansion for $2.50 per hour during his initial incarceration at Stewart Conservation Camp, also in Northern Nevada.

Ruggs will be eligible for parole in 2026. His time served as part of his work program will be credited to him should he desire.

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Revisiting Henry Ruggs' NFL career

In college, Henry Ruggs was not exactly a dominator, though he did win a national championship as a freshman and accrue double-digit touchdowns as a sophomore. The Raiders selected him 12th overall in 2020, hoping that he would become a weapon for then-franchise quarterback Derek Carr.

He immediately became a primary starter, amassing 26 receptions for 452 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed nine times for 49 yards and returned 7 kicks for 141 yards.

In his second season, he saw increased proficiency, covering 469 yards and scoring two touchdowns on 24 catches in seven games (all starts). However, he was released after his fatal drunk-driving accident.

Without Ruggs, the Raiders still made the playoffs at 10-7, partly thanks to a 1,038-yard, nine-touchdown breakout by Hunter Renfrow. However, they were eliminated in the wild card by the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals.

Edited by Andre Castillo