Vanderbilt tailback Ralph Webb is having a historic season, despite his team’s struggles. The Gainesville, Fla., native set a new school freshman record with 838 rushing yards on Saturday with two games remaining.
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Webb has carried the load for Vanderbilt’s offense. The freshman has 185 attempts, second in the SEC to Auburn’s Cameron Artis-Payne. If Webb continues to see carries in his remaining two games, he has a serious chance to break 1,000 yards.
He will need to average 81 yards per game, which he’s reached five times this season. Webb has rushed for 100 yards in both games in which he’s had over 20 attempts. However, both performances came against weaker non-conference teams, rather than SEC defenses.
Vanderbilt enters its second bye week before games at No. 1 Mississippi State (Nov. 22) and a season finale against Tennessee (Nov. 29). The Bulldogs rank No. 22 overall in rushing defense and the Vols rank No. 8 in tackles for loss. Head coach Derek Mason has given his tailback more carries in recent weeks and should continue through his team’s final two games.
With Vanderbilt eliminated from bowl contention, Webb’s chase for 1,000 yards presents something for Commodore fans to look forward to. In a season filled with disappointment, the freshman tailback has provided consistency through his first ten games.
There’s still a chance for Webb to reach the 1,000-yard plateau and rank among the all-time best seasons in school history. Though he faces tough competition, the freshman should provide a solid output in his final two games.
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
