Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III has achieved something unexpected: he has completed his college degree from the University of Alabama, even while serving time in prison.
The news, first reported by sports journalists, highlights a remarkable academic accomplishment amid a highly publicized and tragic chapter of his life.
Ruggs, now 26, was sentenced in August 2023 to three-to-ten years in prison after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.
The charges stemmed from a crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog in a Las Vegas accident that shocked the nation.
Academic Achievement Behind Bars
Despite the challenges of incarceration, Ruggs managed to excel academically.
Sources report that during his final semester, he earned a 4.0 GPA and was named to the President’s List at Alabama.
His dedication to completing his education has been described as an impressive feat, considering the circumstances.
Ruggs had left Alabama at the end of the 2019 college football season to enter the 2020 NFL Draft, leaving behind a standout record of 1,716 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns over three years in Tuscaloosa.
From Crimson Tide Star to NFL Draft Pick
Following his successful college career, Ruggs was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
His time in the NFL, however, was cut short after just one season.
In November 2021, Ruggs was involved in the fatal high-speed crash that ended his professional career and changed his life dramatically.
Authorities reported that Ruggs was driving at speeds over 150mph just before the collision and hit Tintor’s car at 127mph.
The speed limit in the area was 45mph, and Ruggs’ blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
The tragedy led to his immediate release from the Raiders as he recovered in a local hospital alongside his fiancée, who was also injured in the crash.
Prison Transfer and Current Status
Ruggs had been housed at a minimum-security transitional center but was recently moved to a medium-security facility, the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City.
Officials from the Nevada Department of Corrections noted that transfers like this can occur if inmates commit infractions or require a higher level of custody, though they declined to provide specific details about Ruggs’ case.
He is now serving his sentence with the possibility of parole, which is scheduled for next August.
A Complicated Legacy
Henry Ruggs III’s story is one of contrasts: a talented athlete with a promising future who fell into tragedy, and a young man showing resilience and determination to finish what he started academically.
His graduation from Alabama is a rare bright spot amid a deeply difficult chapter, highlighting the complexity of second chances and personal redemption.
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