Webb’s Record-Setting Night Earns MVP Honors

Photo credit: Ryan Gayle

By Tim Gayle

South Alabama coach Major Applewhite said he wasn’t surprised by Jeremiah Webb’s performance in the 11th annual IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl but he might have been the only one.

Webb, an overlooked fifth-year senior who finally started to shine this season saved his best for last, catching six passes for a bowl-record 182 yards and two touchdowns to help the Jaguars defeat Western Michigan 30-23 at Cramton Bowl on Saturday night.

After the game, he was presented the Bart Starr Most Valuable Player Award for his record-setting performance.

“I think one of the things that South does is their system and their ability to get their playmakers the ball really puts you in conflict on defense,” Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor said. “When you have a dynamic passer, when you have multiple skill players who can take it the distance and then you have a great run game, it puts you in conflict on defense. And that’s what I think they did all night. It’s really pick your poison when you play these guys.”

Webb caught a shovel pass from Bishop Davenport on the first play from scrimmage, racing 12 yards with the jet sweep to give an indication of things to come. After his team fell behind 10-0, he sprinted past defenders, hauled in a 52-yard pass from Davenport and tied the game early in the second quarter.

“We’ve been talking about that for weeks,” said Davenport, who got the start in place of the injured Gio Lopez. “That’s my roommate so that connection, that bond, is there. So we were ready for it and waiting for it and got the opportunity.”

On South Alabama’s next possession, Davenport hurled a pass down the right sideline to a covered Webb, who snatched the ball out of cornerback DaShon Bussell’s outstretched hands at the Western Michigan 5-yard line and continued into the end zone as Bussell lay on the ground in total disbelief.

“I wanted it,” Webb said. “He was in position to make a play and I saw the ball and I just wanted it, I wanted it bad. I wanted it more than he did.”

He was targeted just twice in the second half, but finished the first half with three Salute to Veterans Bowl records – his 200 all-purpose yards beat out Arkansas State receiver Chris Murray, who had 179 in 2017; his two receiving touchdowns tied a record set by five other receivers; and his 182 receiving yards edged out the 2019 performance of Arkansas State receiver Omar

Bayless, who had 180.

Webb also finished second in receiving average (30.3), just behind Bowling Green’s Roger Lewis in the inaugural bowl game of 2014.

For Webb, it had to be a satisfying moment. The Chicago native originally signed with South Dakota and was redshirted in 2020 after not playing in any of the team’s four games during the Covid year and had six receptions in a win over South Dakota State but otherwise was rarely targeted in 2021.

After jumping in the transfer portal and landing in Mobile, he played in just one game in 2022 and nine games in 2023 before finally recording 649 yards in 13 games this season.

“When I watched the film … about three years ago in the portal, I heard he played quarterback, I heard he played running back, I heard he played safety,” Applewhite said. “I met his offensive coordinator … and he said he was a tough guy. He’s worked so hard and truthfully probably should have gotten opportunities a heck of a lot earlier than this year but he was just patient, showed maturity. He’s older than his age mentally, he’s very mature, dedicated to the game. I see it every day in practice.

“There’s a great sense of pride as a coach because you get a chance to see your football child put all the work in and then you see him make an ‘A’ on the test.”