He is a fifth-year senior. As a freshman, he red-shirted and sat behind Andre Raymond and J.R. Taylor. His father, the Vincent Webb, was a boxer but steered his son toward football as a child. The one place he wants to go is Hawaii. And he’ll get a chance to this season.

He sat down with Associate Sports Editor Marco Santana last Monday and talked about family, the Illinois game and Batman.

You insist on Vincent Webb Jr., not Vincent Webb. Why is that?

My dad means everything to me, um, you know. Him being the athlete, he’s a great boxer. I came up, you know, loving boxing but he steered me in another direction. He’s always been there for me. Sports, whatever, school, everything. So I think it’s very important that I be known as Jr., you know, to show him that respect.

You get Illinois this weekend. What’s your mindset right now?

I’m ready, man, you know. (A 21-6 loss in the postseason to) Southern Illinois seems like it was just yesterday. Now we’re back, summer’s past. That’s all I’m thinking about is Illinois. Nothing else. I know I should be thinking about class. But just to be perfectly honest with you, it’s all I’m thinking about. Went in [Monday] and watched film with the guys. I’m just motivated. I’m ready to play, man.

What do you do for fun away from the football field?

Watch sports, I’m a sports addict (laughs). All sports. Basketball, football, track, I mean, I don’t usually play any other sports really. I love boxing, if you ask anybody. That’s my other favorite sport. I probably love to watch boxing more than anything (laughs). If I wasn’t playing football, I think I’d be boxing. I’m just a sports nut. (My favorite boxer is)Floyd Merriweather Jr. He’s a junior, and he grew up in a gym, you know, I can kind of see, I kind of know what his life is like. His dad was a professional boxer. He grew up and he’s the best fighter in the world. So I kind of see myself like maybe I could have been that but, no hard feelings, but I really like him for that. My dad tried to keep me away from it. I kind of joke with him. Tell him I should’ve boxed, but you know. I’m happy with football. I think it was a good move for me. He steered me in a different direction. I think it all worked out.

What was your life like growing up in St Louis?

It was a good life. My mom and dad, they were never married. They had known each other for 21 years. It was a good life. My dad wasn’t at home, my mom had a husband. I always had my dad in my life, you know, I didn’t have no problems with my dad. My mom, most of the time I lived with my mom. On the weekends, I would see my dad and see the other side of my family. Growing up, I turned 17 went to high school. And that’s when I moved in with my dad. They had agreed on it already, you know, so as a younger boy I stayed with my mom. As I got older I had to be a man. I needed my father so the transition was great. Everything worked out well. I mean, it had its ups-and-downs, but it’s been a positive and I think it’s only helped me.

If you could be a superhero, who would it be?

(Loooooong pause, obviously taking in the gravity of the question) That’s a good question . comic book character . (nervous laugh) I should be able to answer this off the top of my head . I’ll say Batman. He had the bat cave. He had all the gadgets. He dressed in all black. He had the car that drove by itself to pick him up. I have to say Batman. (And) if I had a sidekick, I’d probably say my roommate George Love. We met five years ago. Both out of St. Louis. I didn’t know him in high school, he didn’t know me. We kind of knew about each other through the news like from football. We’ve built a great relationship, I call him my brother. I would definitely have to say him.

What do your three brothers and sister think about you?

They love me. I’m the best thing that ever happened, you know, if you ask them. My little sister, she loves me like no other. I got three younger brothers. They’re going to be young men soon. They look up to me as a great role model. They kind of look at me and kind of say that’s the example Vincent set. Now, I can be successful and not do the same things he did, but I kind of see the things he did and I can do them myself. I’m happy that I’m the oldest child, I’m happy I can set the example, I’m happy I graduated from college because it gives them something to work toward. It may be rough, but nothing’s impossible. It may be rough but nothing’s impossible. I think I set a great example for those guys and my little sister. They’re going to be great kids when they get to my age. Consciously, I know the decisions I make, have repercussions, I try to make the right decisions in all situations because they watch my every move.