After three successful seasons at Jacksonville State, Rich Rodriguez accepted to coach at West Virginia for second his second stint with Mountaineers.

2023 First Team All-American and FBS Offensive Guard of the Year, Clay Webb, spoke on the influence Rodriguez had on his final collegiate seasons after transferring from Georgia.

“He came in a couple of weeks before I got there from the portal. He was wonderful for Jacksonville State,” Webb said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “He really changed the program, — Had us winning games and championships.”

Rodriguez went 27-10 during his time in Jacksonville. Jax State posted back-to-back nine-win seasons, earned its first bowl victory in 2023 and clinched its first FBS conference title under Rodriguez.

Webb was the anchor to a Jax State offense that averaged 236.6 yards per game on the ground in 2023.

Saturday, he expounded on the hard nose football philosophy Rodriguez instilled in the program, which eventually landed him on the radar of NFL scouts.

“Hard edge football,” Webb said. “Meaning to never quit and never taking a play off. You have to earn every win you get through preparation and practice. That was Rich Rodriguez football.”

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected].