Jax State running back Ron Wiggins ‘has a chance’ to return for final games of the season

Jacksonville State could get one of its key contributors back for the end of the season.

Rich Rodriguez shared on Tuesday that running back Ron Wiggins, who has missed every game this season after a surgery to repair a toe ligament, could return late in the season for the Gamecocks.

"He's not going to be back for this game, but there is a chance for Ron to be back," Rodriguez said. "He's another guy we've missed, but he's another guy that has a chance to be back for the last couple of games, which would be nice."

After Saturday's upcoming game against Louisiana Tech, Jax State's remaining games include home matchups against FIU (Nov. 16) and Sam Houston (Nov. 23) before closing the regular season at Western Kentucky (Nov. 30).

Wiggins, a senior, was believed to be out for the season due to the injury.

Rodriguez said while Wiggins hasn't practiced yet, he hopes the running back will be cleared to practice next week.

"He's out of the boot, he's on the treadmill, but he hasn't done any individual or any of that kind of stuff yet. Hopefully, we can doing that next week."

Last season, Wiggins ran for 468 and six touchdowns on 92 carries, also hauling in nine catches for 77 yards; he missed five games due to a chest injury suffered in last year's game at Coastal Carolina.

He earned New Orleans Bowl MVP honors after running for a season-high 126 yards and a score on 27 carries in the overtime win over Louisiana.

During his senior year at Jacksonville High School, he rushed for 2,835 yards and 47 touchdowns to earn Class 4A Back of the Year honors and lead his team to the Class 4A state title game.

He finished his high school career with 5,828 yards rushing, 6,580 all-purpose yards and 95 total touchdowns.

Jax State (5-3, 4-0 CUSA) will travel to Louisiana Tech on Nov. 9.