Seasoned Veterans Lead Gamecocks On First Day of Fall Camp

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State football team officially began its first fall camp as an FBS program on Wednesday morning and a seasoned veterans found themselves leading the way once again.
Seniors Zion Webb and Jeremiah Harris both came to Jax State in 2017 and both have had their careers extended by the NCAA, allowing them a final season of eligibility in 2023. They duo entered their 2023 fall camp with a different mentality than in previous years, knowing it will officially be their last in a Gamecock uniform.
They helped lead the Gamecocks in their first practice since joining Conference USA and Football's Bowl Subdivision (FBS) on July 1 on Wednesday. The team worked out for two hours on Salls Field, a place that has become all too familiar to Webb and Harris in their 12 combined seasons at Jax State.
Both players were benefactors of the NCAA's blanket waiver to grant an extra year of eligibility to those that competed during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Both also received a medical waiver after suffering season-ending injuries earlier in their careers. They began their seventh fall camp with the Gamecocks on Wednesday, and both were enthusiastic about how it compared to those in the past.
"I felt like it was better than last year," Harris said. "Last year, the first day was kind of crazy with it being our first day coming out into the new system and learning it. This year I feel like everybody has figured out what is going on, so I'd say it was a better start."
Rodriguez wasn't as eager to praise his team on Day One of Year Two in charge of the Gamecocks.
"We have a lot of work to do," Rodriguez said. "I think our guys want to be good, but we had way too many guys loafing and the coaches weren't as prepared as we should have been."
His tone changed when asked about having Webb back for a seventh season and what that would mean for what he expects to be a very healthy competition at the quarterback position in 2023.
"Zion is a great young man," Rodriguez said. "He really wanted to play, and he's been injured most of his career. Even last year he had moments where he couldn't go and really be his true self, so we're excited for him. With him, Te'Sean (Smoot) and Logan (Smothers) we have a pretty good battle at quarterback, and we have some good experience with Zion. I'm expecting big things out of them."
Webb beamed when asked about the relief of knowing he was granted his final season of eligibility. He went through spring practice not knowing what the NCAA's decision would be on his appeal.
"It was exciting to know that I'm getting my year back and knowing what I'm getting into, instead of in the spring where I was practicing and not knowing if I'd get my year back," Webb said.
Harris, on the other hand, has known that he would have this season to look forward to. He has turned his focus toward being a leader in a program that he has seen every aspect of in his career. The Shorterville, Ala., native came to Jax State as a preferred walk-on in 2017 and finds himself one of the most experienced players on Rodriguez's second roster with the Gamecocks. He's looking forward to enhancing his role as a leader on defense.
"I try to stay on everybody," Harris added. "Even the walk-ons, because I know what they're going through and I've been through it. So I try to stay on them as much as the scholarship guys. I try to treat everybody equal and try to be the best leader that I can be. With it being my last year, I want to try to leave a legacy and leave a stain on the program that will help it build and be great in the future."
Webb finds himself in as good a place as he's been in a long career at Jax State heading into fall camp. He has over a year in Rodriguez's system and knows what is expected of him. On top of that, he's healthy for the first time since the spring season in 2021, when he was a First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference performer as Jax State's signal caller.
"I'd say a big improvement comes from a mental standpoint – knowing what I'm doing and how to go about practice," Webb added. "I've matured and it's been a big difference for me, especially body-wise, because I had a full summer this year, so I feel like I'm in shape, healthy and ready to go."
The Gamecocks will take the practice field for the second time on Thursday at 8 a.m., working in helmets for the second-straight day. They will be able to put on shoulder pads for Friday's practice and will work in full pads for the first time on Tuesday.