Tagovailoa, Jeudy, and Ruggs make NFLPA’s ‘Rising Stars’ list

Of the four Alabama football players that were drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, three made NFLPA’s ‘Rising Stars’ list.

Of the four Alabama Crimson Tide football players that were drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, three made NFLPA’s ‘Rising Stars’ list. The NFLPA stands for the National Football League Players Association.

“The annual NFLPA Rising Stars list identifies top Rookies and Veterans poised to have breakout seasons, gain fan support and ultimately rank among the top-sellers of all officially licensed player merchandise,” the NFLPA says on its website.

Former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was drafted by the Miami Dolphins as the 5th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, is ranked second on the list, behind former LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, Joe Burrow.

Nov 9, 2019; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) passing against the LSU Tigers during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Joining Tagovailoa on the list is former Alabama wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III. Although Ruggs was drafted before Jeudy, Jeudy is ranked 5th on the list, one spot ahead of Ruggs who is listed at number six.

Jerry Jeudy
Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) breaks away from Michigan defensive back Daxton Hill (30) on his early touchdown reception in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday January 1, 2020.

Ruggs was the 12th overall draft pick of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. Jeudy was drafted three spots behind Ruggs as the 15th overall pick by the Denver Broncos.

Alabama-Tennessee
Oct 19, 2019; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Bryce Thompson (20) breaks up a pass intended for Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) during the first half of an NCAA football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. : Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Here is a little history behind the NFLPA’s Rising Star list according to NFLPA.com:

  • “Each of the category rankings is developed by evaluating factors including on-field performance, fantasy football popularity, early demand from NFLPA partners for content and marketing, social media engagement, product submissions from more than 80 NFLPA licensees, the strength of a player’s team market, and the size of existing and future fan bases.”
  • “This year’s Rising Stars will provide partners with a valuable resource for planning licensed product lines, evaluating potential brand ambassadors, launching social media campaigns, developing new player-focused content, and creating marketing and promotion strategies for the upcoming season.”

Regardless of their ranking on the NFLPA’s Rising Star list, there’s no doubt that Tagovailoa, Jeudy, and Ruggs will have an incredible and successful NFL rookie season and career.

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