Former Las Vegas Raiders starHenry Ruggs remains incarcerated at the Casa Grande Transitional Housing facility in Las Vegas. According to records from the Nevada Department of Corrections, his earliest eligible date for parole is August 5, 2026.
Ruggs was the Raiders’ first-round pick in the 2020 draft, but in 2021, he was driving at high speed under the influence of alcohol when his car crashed into another vehicle driven by a 23-year-old woman who died in the accident.
Ruggs was well-liked by the Raiders organization, especially by then-quarterback Derek Carr. On the other hand, running back Josh Jacobs, who was with the Raiders at the time and is now with the Green Bay Packers, revealed that Ruggs is staying in shape while in prison with the goal of eventually returning to the NFL.
“Talking to him and hearing from him lifts my spirits because he’s always positive,” Jacobs said on Ryan Clark’s podcast The Pivot, according to Mark Inabinett of AL.com. “He’s positive about everything. He’s training. They let him train and do stuff like that, so I told him, ‘When you get out, I don’t know if you’ll have a shot.’ I’ve been talking to some people for him. I’ve heard that a couple of teams are willing to give him a chance. I told him, ‘When that opportunity comes, don’t waste it. Don’t look back, and show yourself and everyone else that one decision doesn’t define who you are as a man.'”
In May 2023, Ruggs pled guilty to one count of DUI and a lesser charge of vehicular manslaughter. As part of the plea deal, he was sentenced to between 36 and 120 months in prison for the DUI charge and six months for the second charge.
Despite the tragic situation, teammates have always said Henry Ruggs was a great locker room presence both with the Raiders and earlier at Alabama.
“And not just that – he’s a good kid. He had never been in trouble. I never saw him do anything crazy. He was just one of those guys who got into a really, really unfortunate situation and made a decision that led to something happening. That’s what hurt me the most. He’s not someone you’d say, ‘Bro, you deserved what happened to you,'” Jacobs added.
Henry Ruggs’ stats with the Raiders:
Henry Ruggs III played two seasons with the Raiders (2020-2021), appearing in 20 games. He recorded 50 receptions for 921 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also had 12 carries for 65 yards. His speed and ability to make explosive plays made him stand out, and he was on track to become a star – now we’ll see if life offers him a second chance.
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