Nov. 21, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ralph Webb joined an elite club on Saturday night.
The sophomore running back surpassed 1,000 yards for the season, becoming just the fifth Vanderbilt player to achieve the milestone. Webb rushed for 79 yards on 25 carries, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark early in the fourth quarter of the Commodores’ 25-0 loss to Texas A&M at Vanderbilt Stadium.
Webb has 1,003 rushing yards heading into the regular-season finale at Tennessee next Saturday. The 5-foot-10, 202-pounder joins Zac Stacy (twice), Corey Harris, Jermaine Johnson and Frank Mordica as the only Commodores to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
Webb ranks sixth among single-season Vanderbilt rushers as he surpassed Jamie O’Rourke (933 in 1974) on Saturday night. Webb holds the school record for rushing yards in a single season by a freshman and a sophomore. His 1,910 career rushing yards are ninth most by a Vanderbilt running back.
Cunningham rolls in tackles: Sophomore Zach Cunningham continued to put on a tackling clinic.
The team’s leader in tackles registered 14 against the Aggies, including 10 solo stops and three tackles for loss for the second-most in his career in each category. The inside linebacker, who also had a sack, has notched at least 10 tackles in six games this year, contributing to a team-high 93.
He posted double-digit tackles for the third straight game, marking the second time this season he has done so. Before this year, the last Commodore to have three straight games with at least 10 tackles was Sean Richardson in 2010.
Senior Day: Sixteen Commodore seniors were honored before the game with their families on Senior Day.
The 16 seniors playing in their last home game at Vanderbilt Stadium were: defensive lineman Torey Agee, defensive lineman Caleb Azubike, fullback Ladarius Banks, guard Jake Bernstein, punter Colby Cooke, offensive lineman Blake Fromang, linebacker Harding Harper, linebacker Darreon Herring, wide receiver Kris Kentera, fullback Chris Martin, offensive lineman Kevin McCoy, safety Jahmel McIntosh, offensive lineman Spencer Pulley, tight end Steven Scheu, linebacker Stephen Weatherly and safety Andrew Williams.
The class has compiled a four-year record of 24-24 with wins in the 2012 Music City Bowl and 2013 BBVA Compass Bowl.
Dansby stops by: Former Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson was on hand for Saturday’s game.
Swanson, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2015 MLB Draft, presented the anchor as part of the Commodores’ traditional pregame ceremony. He then later joined the broadcast team of Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer on the SEC Network during the third quarter.
The All-American infielder helped the Commodores reach consecutive College World Series, winning the national championship in 2014 – and being named the CWS Most Outstanding Player – and finishing runner-up in 2015.
