Saturday will not be the first time Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs III and his brother, Kevontae' Ruggs, compete against each other. Competition has been the lifeblood of their relationship all their lives. But this will be the first time the siblings compete from opposing sidelines.

Henry will be starting the third game of his sophomore year for the top-ranked Crimson Tide (2-0) when it travels to Oxford, Miss., to take on the Ole Miss Rebels (2-0) -- the team Kevontae’ signed with in February and started Game 1 at outside linebacker as a true freshman.

Ruggs versus Ruggs is one of many storylines surrounding this weekend’s SEC West matchup between Alabama and Ole Miss. But it has dominated their household in Montgomery, Ala.

“I am, one, overjoyed,” said their mother, Nataki Ruggs. “It’s been a long time coming to get this far. Two, I’m really, extremely anxious because I know the both of them are competitors, to say the least. They’re competitors. But they’ve always played on the same team. This is the first chance for them to be playing against each other, so we’re all just all overwhelmed and excited.

“They’ve always played together.”

Henry was an All-SEC Freshman team selection last year after scoring six touchdowns. In two games this season, the oldest Ruggs brother has hauled in five catches for 71 yards and one touchdown. One of three now-sophomore wideouts that played plenty in 2018, he has continued his knack for finding the end zone, recording a touchdown on seven of his 17 career receptions.

Rising from reserve to starter, Henry is now one of the veterans in the Tide’s receiver room.

“This year it’s more trying to take on a leadership role, trying to help out the freshmen and just keep developing my game at the same time,” Henry Ruggs III said. “… Just being the best me I can be. Come out here, talk to the coaches and seeing what it is I need to work on and help the young guys. Just being more technique sound and just kind of being a more fundamental receiver.”

Alabama wideout Henry Ruggs III picks up yards after the catch against Arkansas State.

That, however, has never been an issue for the former Lee (Ala.) star.

“He’s always been very much a leader,” Nataki Ruggs said. “I’m so very proud of both of them, Henry especially. Because he went down there with an open mind and wasn’t going out there, necessarily, to be the man. Of course, he was known for that in high school.

“So, he went with the right attitude, and I think that had a lot to do with why he’s progressing the way that he is. He’s a team player, always has been. He’s not a stand-alone player. He depends on the team to kind of help him when he’s down, and he gives the same thing to him.”

Henry showed that same unselfish approach during his brother’s recruitment.

The older sibling by 14 months, Henry was a Top100 prospect in the 2017 cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite, and he chose to attend Alabama as the state’s No. 2 overall recruit. He was also an immediate contributor during UA’s title run last year and was on the receiving end of the Tide’s first touchdown on the championship game -- a pass from Tua Tagovailoa.

So, Kevontae’ -- although a three-star recruit of his own with offers from Alabama, Texas A&M and others -- was always known as “Henry Ruggs’ little brother.” But the elder brother let Kevontae’ know it was OK to step out of his shadow and create his own path at a different school.

“They’ve grown tremendously together,” Nataki Ruggs said. “They give each other their push. And it’s really good for me because with me being mom, of course, I want to be there and kind of be their guidance. But for them two, they’re each other’s guidance. They’ve always wanted the best for each other, but they’ve always dreamed of playing together on the same collegiate team.

“However, when it came down to it ... they had their brotherly talk, and Kevontae’ told him he wanted to go on and strive to be the best him that he could be. So, when it came down to it, Henry just informed him to go where he felt most comfortable and to become his own man within himself instead of coming to be known as Henry Ruggs’ little brother.”

Ole Miss linebacker Kevontae' Ruggs wins a rep during practice.

After totaling more than 130 stops in his final two seasons at Lee, Kevontae’ committed to Ole Miss on Jan. 28, setting up Saturday’s showdown with Henry at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

“He just said to follow my heart,” Kevontae' Ruggs told the Montgomery Advertiser on National Signing Day. “He said the best place for him might not be the best place for me, which it wasn’t. So, he wanted me to go elsewhere if I wanted. When I see him (on the field), it’ll be about competing like we’ve always done.”

Since making his decision, Kevontae’ had a “tremendous fall camp,” according to Ole Miss’ game notes for the week, and started the Rebels’ season opener against Texas Tech with two tackle. Kevontae’ provided an early spark with a big hit on special teams and started at outside linebacker. He was unable to play last week, though, due to a concussion, but he has been cleared this week.

“Kevontae' Ruggs practiced full (Tuesday), so he is out concussion protocol and back full speed, expected to be in the game,” Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke said on the SEC coaches teleconference. “But what he did is Kevontae’ loves to play football. He is a very, very aggressive and physical guy, and what he lacks in size, he makes up for with his passion and toughness.

“So, I think that’s what makes him unique and fun to be around, just because of his love of the game, how hard he plays and how important it is to him.”

Luke was also impressed by what he has seen from Henry throughout his career at Alabama.

“I think they’re both very, very physical. I think he’s their most physical blocker. I think they both just enjoy competing, and you see them both having success. So, I think that’s a credit to them. I think just the way they both compete, I think that’s what stands out.”

That competition originated during their childhoods and followed the Ruggs brothers to college.

Alabama wideout Henry Ruggs III absorbs a hit after one of three receptions vs. A-State.

“They’ve always practiced together, played together,” Nataki Ruggs said. “Even just at home, playing around together, they just always have competed. Who’s going to be better? Who’s the toughest? Who’s the strongest? That’s been their livelihood ever since they were little boys.”

“They’re brothers at the core, definitely. They’re only 14 months apart, so they’ve done everything together. Of course, they’ve always been each other’s competition because they’ve always been leaders on the team, regardless as to what sports they played.

“So, it wasn’t so much always one topping the other. It was just making sure that they both knew that they had the same qualities, thirst for the same goals. So, it was just always to try to best them that they can be. If it meant helping each other, then that’s what they did.”

Their mother has prepared for this moment. She had a shirt made to support both of her sons as they face each other in Oxford on Saturday, where she will, of course, be in attendance. But there will not be a more conflicted fan in the expected crowd of 64,308-plus than Nataki Ruggs.

“I told them that they better have my medicine on standby,” she jokingly said. “I’m known for having anxiety attacks. So, I think this, of all games, is going to create that.”

Despite the mixture of emotions for the Ruggs family prior to this weekend’s game, actually witnessing Henry and Kevontae’ step onto the same field as Division-I football players -- albeit as opponents -- will be a special moment for those supporting the two brothers.

“Ever since they were eight and nine years old, we’ve just put our all into making sure that they get to this point,” Nataki Ruggs said. “To see it happen, that’s just a prayer answered. It’s a blessing.”

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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