WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Rams rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson said he and his late University of Oregon teammate Spencer Webb were "really close." So much so, that Ferguson in 2022 said he was like a younger brother to Webb.
"Spence, you could ask anybody, most of the time he's the first person that reached out when someone came in as a freshman, as a transfer," Ferguson told the Rams.com. "He was one of the people that always took everyone under their wing. All the freshmen that came in with my class, but especially me, being in the same (position) room as him, he took me in. So we were really close friends."
In July 2022, Webb tragically died in a recreational accident at the age of 22. His passing deeply impacted the Ducks' football program, especially Webb's own position group. The program proceeded to honor his memory in various ways, including a spider web decal with the No. 4 – Webb planned to switch to that number ahead of his final season – on the back of their helmets, and gear like compression sleeves and gloves.
Webb initially wore 18 for the first few years of his Oregon career, including when Ferguson first arrived on campus. Picking 18 as his jersey number with the Rams was a logical extension of continuing to honor Webb's memory.
"My late friend Spencer Webb wore 18 when I first got there, and that's who I knew him as is 18," Ferguson said. "Wearing that number after he passed away just to honor him, so it's really big to me."
Webb was widely remembered for being full of life, a role model and positive influence with passion for helping others, and living a "real-life tale of perseverance" given what he had overcome to get to Oregon to begin with.
Ferguson – who also has Webb's 18 tattooed on his left arm – said "it's huge" to continue to honor the memory of his close friend, especially as time goes on.
"It happened a couple years ago now, and people can lose sight of that," Ferguson said. "For me, having that number, it's like having him out there with me. But then also just kind of making sure people still remember by honoring him through his number, of who he was, what he stood for, and a lot of good things he brought to the game. And so just being able to honor him, really, and just keep him with me, but also keep him for everybody else to see."
