Dec. 27, 2016
By Zac Ellis
VUCommdoores.com
SHREVEPORT, La. – On Monday night, Ralph Webb sat in the Vanderbilt locker room at Independence Stadium and explained his decision. The Commodores’ redshirt junior running back had decided to return to Nashville for a fifth season in 2017. That decision, he said, was beneficial to himself – and to Vanderbilt.
“I came to the conclusion and made the decision for myself that I have more to give,” Webb said. “I can put myself in a better situation for next year’s NFL draft and also help my team win more games.
“There’s a lot out there that we can go get. There’s much more than what happened tonight.”
What happened on Monday won’t be the final chapter in Webb’s storied career with Vanderbilt. The Commodores fell to N.C. State, 41-17, in the Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport, and though Webb could have decided to skip next season in lieu of the NFL draft, the three-year starter decided he wanted more. That’s why he’ll suit up for one final year of SEC football in 2017.
Webb added to his already lengthy profile in the Vanderbilt record books with his performance against the Wolfpack. He ran for 111 yards (5.3 per carry) on 21 attempts, and he added a 30-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. That play stands as the Commodores’ longest scoring play of the season.
RECAP: N.C. State 41, Vanderbilt 17
Had Webb decided to leave for the NFL, he would have done so as arguably the greatest running back in Vanderbilt history. The Gainesville, Fla. native finished 2016 with 1,283 rushing yards, with passed Zac Stacy (1,193) to set a new program single-season rushing record. Webb is now Vanderbilt’s all-time rushing leader (3,345) and holds class records for Commodore freshmen, sophomores and juniors.
Webb has little to prove in the way of his Vanderbilt legacy. But in assessing his future, he discussed his options at length with his family, head coach Derek Mason and running backs coach Jeff Genyk. In the end, Webb decided he could better hone his game for NFL evaluators with another college season.
But Webb admits Vanderbilt’s rise under Mason also factored into his decision. Despite the loss to N.C. State in the Camping World Independence Bowl, the Commodores still finished with six wins and three SEC wins, the most in three seasons under Mason. Several key faces, like quarterback Kyle Shurmur, are set to return in 2017. That’s why Webb saw an opportunity to help Vanderbilt reach the next step.
“I’ve been able to do some great things and accomplish some great goals, to help the team out and wins some games,” Webb said. “But all in all, the goal is the win the SEC Championship. It’s just believing in my teammates, my coaches and the process.”
Webb made his decision to return to Nashville prior to Vanderbilt’s loss in the postseason, but he doesn’t want his team’s setback against N.C. State to serve as the final chapter in his Commodore career. One year from now, Webb can put his full focus on the NFL. But Vanderbilt has plenty more to reach in 2017, and Webb can’t wait to don black and gold once again.
“It’s been fun, but it’s not over,” Webb said. “We’ve got a lot of guys returning next year, so we’re going to pick right back up where we left off and just keep going.”
