JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State football’s biggest offseason addition might be someone who was on the team last year.
During spring training, Jacksonville native Ron Wiggins entered the transfer portal, before returning to the Gamecocks in the summer. Since the transfer portal opened, he was one of the first players to return to the team after entering the portal. After the first day of fall camp, head coach Rich Rodriguez spoke about why Wiggins was able to return to the team.
“It wasn’t without conversation, he wanted to come back and I let him come back. ‘ and I think other guys are making a mistake and lied to him. He’s going to have to go back there,” Rodriguez said.
Wiggins’ reinstatement came at a crucial time when the Gamecocks were looking for depth behind Anwar Lewis. During the spring game, the Gamecocks had a big concern with depth, using some of their athletes to carry. Some of them were waiting for the transfer and freshman to come on campus, but it was signaling that there was some work to do in the summer.
Wiggins was one of many running backs signed over the summer. Khristian Lando and Justus Savage arrived on campus as part of the freshman class. Transfers Andrew Paul and Tre Stewart also arrived on campus.
This gives the Gamecocks one of their deepest positions and is a major reason why Wiggins will now have to go back to where he was before entering the portal – a potential co-start with Lewis.
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“Coach McDowell did a good job. We have some guys in the portal, two or three there. I really like our freshman class, we have four freshman running backs here in camp and they will all be good players. Of course, Anwar Lewis seems to be in the In the best form since he’s been here, you’ve got Ronnie who we know can play,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve gained a bit of size for the first time with some of our transfers. I think we’re in much better shape than we were in the spring.”
This article originally appeared in The Gadsden Times: How Ron Wiggins Returned to the Jacksonville State Football Team
