Nick Saban and Alabama have an incredible history of producing high-caliber NFL wide receivers in recent years. NFL stars such as Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, and Calvin Ridley were all once coached by the Crimson Tide coach.
However, this year, Alabama made history in the draft. Former Bama wideouts Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy became the first wide receiver teammates to both be drafted in the top 15 in the same year.
The first and second receivers drafted in the 2020 class, both Ruggs and Jeudy are expected to have a high impact on the teams that drafted them. The two former teammates will be compared and contrasted throughout their NFL careers in order to see who is the better player.
But, if you ask Saban who the better prospect is, he'll tell you that you can't go wrong with either.
“I think it’s a matter of personal preference, choice, whatever you want to call it,” Saban said on NFL Network on Wednesday. “I think receivers are a little bit like a basketball team. You’ve got a point guard. You’ve got a two-guard. You’ve got a swing forward. You’ve got a power forward. They’re all different, but they’re all very critical to being successful as a team.
Jeudy, who was selected by the Denver Broncos with the 15th overall pick, was the superior receiver at Alabama production-wise. However, Ruggs dazzled at the 2020 combine by running a 4.27 forty-yard-dash, which boosted his draft stock enough for him to be selected 12th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
“So, if your personal preference was to have a speed receiver, then Henry Ruggs is probably as good as it gets. If you wanted somebody whose a little more of a finesse type player, great slot receiver, good option route runner than you probably would favor Jerry Jeudy.”
The star receivers join seven of their Crimson Tide teammates as two of the nine Alabama players drafted in the first three rounds of the 2020 draft.
“In their own style of play, both guys are exceptional so it really was just a matter of personal choice in terms of what somebody was really looking for,” Saban said. “I think both guys are really, really good players and I think they’ll have great careers.”
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