Georgia snags lineman Webb out of Alabama
Landing a five-star offensive lineman is nothing new for Georgia since Kirby Smart arrived and hired Sam Pittman as his offensive line coach.
Snagging one out of Nick Saban territory is a first.
The Bulldogs on Monday received a nonbinding pledge from Clay Webb, a 6-foot-3, 295-pounder from Oxford, Alabama. Webb is rated the No. 1 center in the nation, according to the composite rankings on 247Sports.com, which lists him as the No. 22 prospect overall for the 2019 recruiting cycle.
Webb, who has family ties to Georgia, selected Smart’s Bulldogs over Saban’s Crimson Tide during an announcement at Oxford High School.
After thanking God, his mother, grandparents, coaches and teammates, Webb said, “At this time, I would like to say that I am committing to the University of Georgia.” He
then put on a Georgia hat and provided one for his grandfather as well.
Pittman was quick to react to the news by posting a video on Twitter.
“It’s been a little while since I was able to tweet something,” Pittman said, “but today just seemed like
a really great day to tweet out, ‘Go Dawgs!’”
With the Bulldogs having the annual luxury of Peach State talent and with Alabama and Auburn typically grabbing the best prospects in their state, Georgia does not have much history of signing
recruits from its western neighbor. Sophomore inside linebacker Monty Rice of Madison is the only current Bulldogs scholarship player from Alabama, and Luverne tackle Chester Adams and Centreville center Ben Jones are the most notable Georgia players so far this century from the Yellowhammer State.
Adams was a threestar signee in the 2004 class who played in high school for former Crimson Tide head coach Mike DuBose, and Jones was a four-star signee in 2008 who currently is on a streak of 77 consecutive NFL starts with the Houston Texans (2014-15) and the Tennessee Titans (2016-present).
Webb is the fourth fivestar offensive line prospect the Bulldogs have landed in the past three recruiting cycles, following 2017 signee Isaiah Wilson and 2018 signees Cade Mays and Jamaree Salyer. He is also the fourth fivestar prospect committed to Georgia’s 2019 signing class, joining defensive end Nolan Smith of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and the in-state duo of Thomaston defensive tackle Travon Walker and Marietta receiver Dominick Blaylock.
Smith committed to the Bulldogs in January 2017 but has taken visits this year to Alabama, Penn State and Tennessee. Smith announced Monday via social media that he was “staying home” with his Georgia pledge, and Walker felt the need to reaffirm his intention as well.
“I’m locked in,” Walker posted on Twitter. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Blaylock is the stepson of Chattanooga Lookouts co-owner John Woods.
Duo recognized
Georgia senior cornerback Deandre Baker was named Monday as an Associated Press firstteam All-American. Baker, who won the Jim Thorpe Award last Thursday, is the first Bulldogs defensive back to be named firstteam All-American since Bacarri Rambo in 2011.
Bulldogs sophomore left tackle Andrew Thomas was an AP second-team selection.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.