Georgia continues to prioritize 5-star junior OL prospect Clay Webb. That will be vital for the program if it wants to keep up with a very tough task in potentially signing Webb.
It is an obvious evaluation to regard him as one of the nation’s top young offensive line prospects.
The 6-foot-3, 285-pounder from Oxford High School (Oxford, Ala.) jumped on every program’s recruiting radar in the spring of 2016. It will be very hard for the Bulldogs or any other top program to pry him from Alabama and Auburn.
But that staff in Athens will still try.
The nation’s No. 1 center for 2019 has shown himself to be worthy of extra effort. Webb has just looked that good since when he won rep after rep that day at the 2016 Nike Opening regional at Buford.
For a good time stamp on that, the Sunday marked the very first camp for Jake Fromm after he flipped from Alabama to Georgia. That’s how long it has been since Webb proved he belonged on a very big stage.
With that, he still has a spring practice and senior season to go.
That event also proved to be a telling reflection of his competitive zeal. Nobody in the 2017 or 2018 classes wanted to work at the center spot that day. Especially against the elite tackles on hand.
Webb had no problem with that. He showed up to compete, finished in the top 5 in the lineman drills and turned every head in attendance. He was just a freshman, but he made it clear he could win his reps against anyone. Even at that age.
Check out his sophomore film.
Does UGA have a puncher’s chance with Clay Webb?
The Oxford standout also has a huge presence of family in Georgia. Those folks have been consistently telling him to come to Georgia for years now.
“My uncle and all my grandparents are from Georgia,” Webb said. “So I get a lot of Georgia vibes from them there and I go to a Georgia game and they are always really exciting. With those fans. It is always a great experience.”
The No. 10 overall prospect for 2019 (per the 247Sports Composite) has also made sure to visit UGA several times over the last few years.
He expresses a deep appreciation for line coach Sam Pittman and what the staff has already been able to accomplish in Athens.
What stands out about the Bulldogs?
“I love the offensive line coach and I love the offensive coordinator,” Webb said.
He said it would be possible for Georgia to pull the upset. His fondness for offensive line coach Sam Pittman and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney would be the main reasons why he is considering the school.
“(Chaney) is really funny, too,” Webb said. “We’ll get in like little meetings with me and him and Pittman, and we’ll talk for a while. They are pretty great.”
But this recruitment will be like pulling teeth from a T-Rex. Pittman will need to work overtime with that quick wit to keep up with the Tide and Tigers for Webb.
“He’s hilarious,” Webb said. “I love him so much.”
The easy 5-star will take this recruitment deep into his senior season.
“It will be at the end of it,” Webb said. “So I can think long and hard about what school I’m looking for.”
Webb will be able to enroll early out of Oxford. He is currently also “on track” to do that. Why did that make sense for him?
“Just so I can get into the program headfirst,” Webb said. “Get to learn the plays and get used to college and stuff like that.”
Please allow for a little repetition: It will be staggeringly difficult to get Webb out of The Yellowhammer State.
He’s such an elite talent that Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn is already showing up at his wrestling matches this month. Webb is also very close with Alabama 4-star junior OT commit Pierce Quick.
The Bulldogs have the nation’s top-rated class for 2019 at this time. But Webb doesn’t have any relationships with any UGA commits like that. It will be hard for any peer recruiter to rival the vibe he has with Quick in the 2019 class.
Webb had another impressive showing at the Under Armour “Future 50” event on Jan. 4. He was his usual dominant self.
If that’s not enough, there’s also Clemson. The Tigers are also part of his top 4 schools at this time.
Competition is no big deal to Clay Webb
The Bulldogs have also stacked up the depth chart with potential line anchors at center and guard in 2017 and 2018. UGA signed three guys in December who could play center or guard in Athens.
It does not seem like it will not hinder Webb’s view of the program.
“Where ever I like that I want to go if there are people there, then I will battle them for the spot,” he said.
Webb said he loves “the home feel” at Auburn.
‘I just love the home feel of it,” he said. “When I get there and go to the games everybody is excited. Everybody is hyped up for the games. It is like playing in our own backyard.”