South Alabama RB La’Damian Webb out for bowl game

South Alabama RB La’Damian Webb out for bowl game

South Alabama running back La’Damian Webb is out for the 68 Ventures Bowl with a toe injury, Jaguars coach Kane Wommack said Tuesday.

Webb missed the Jaguars’ regular-season finale vs. Texas State with turf toe and the injury has not healed in time for him to play vs. Eastern Michigan (6-6) on Dec. 23. That means Webb’s college career is over after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at South Alabama.

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With Webb out, sophomore Braylon McReynolds will start at running back for South Alabama (6-6) in the bowl game, which takes place on the Jaguars’ home field at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Sophomore Kentrel Bullock is also expected back after missing two late-season games due to injury.

“La’Damian is not gonna play in the game,” Wommack said. “He’s been battling a turf toe injury and won’t be able to go. Obviously, we’re excited to have Braylon McReynolds back the last couple of weeks — that’s critical. And Kentrel Bullock, we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do. He’s had a couple of good days of practice here.”

McReynolds returned late in the year after suffering a broken collarbone in the season-opener, but has 161 yards rushing and 101 receiving in four games. Bullock has 380 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games.

Webb — a former Alabama Mr. Football at Beauregard High School — transferred to South Alabama in 2022 after previously playing two seasons at Jones (Miss.) College and one at Florida State. He rushed for a program-record 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns his first season with the Jaguars, then followed that up with 1,007 yards and 16 scores in 11 games this year.

Webb’s 29 career rushing touchdowns are also a South Alabama record, as are his 32 total touchdowns. His 2,074 rushing yards rank third behind Xavier Johnson’s 2,670 (2014-17) and Tra Minter’s (2,199) 2017-19.

South Alabama also remains undecided at quarterback for the bowl game, as starter Carter Bradley continues to recover from a knee injury. Freshman Gio Lopez and senior Desmond Trotter — who threw three touchdown passes after Bradley was injured vs. Texas State in the regular-season finale — have been splitting reps with Bradley during pre-bowl practice.

“We’re still kind of waiting to make sure Carter has as much time to rest that knee as he can,” Wommack said. “The best thing you can do for him right now is rest. He’s getting a couple of reps here and there, but we’ll kind of wait till the end of this year before we really start pushing. … I think we’ll play multiple quarterbacks in the game for sure.”

South Alabama is also without star receiver Caullin Lacy, who has entered the NCAA transfer portal and will not be back with the team going forward. Lacy, who set a Jaguars program record with 91 receptions this season, will either transfer to a Power 5 program or enter the NFL draft, with a decision expected later this week.

Also gone from the South Alabama team to the transfer portal are two backups, defensive end Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge and wide receiver Christopher Davis. Linebacker Gavin Forsha initially opted to enter the portal before pulling out, and was at practice Tuesday.

Kickoff for the 68 Ventures Bowl is set for 6 p.m. on Dec. 23 at Hancock Whitney Stadium. ESPN will televise the game live.