As we move through the NFL Draft process, sometimes success for prospects isn’t always as linear as we think. Sometimes it takes a change of scenery in order to get the most out of a prospect.
Today’s report looks at a player who did just that; changed the scenery and began to flourish. Let’s talk about Clay Webb.
Hailing from Oxford, Alabama, Clay was a former 4 star recruit who originally committed his talents to the university of Georgia. Clay was one of two centers selected to play in the 2019 Under Armour All-America game, as well as ranked #18 in USA Today’s “Chosen 25”. ESPN ranked him as their #11 overall top prospect in his class, so the talent was evident early on.
After spending his first 3 seasons as Georgia where he would see limited action, Clay transferred to Jacksonville State in 2022, and began to shine. He helped the offense lead their conference in rushing yards per game (251.0) as well as points scored per game (36.2).
One thing that went under the radar during 2022? Jacksonville State’s red zone scoring percentage was a whopping 89%. That’s a byproduct of amazing offensive line play getting push down near the goal line, which Clay was a part of.
In 2023, Clay was named a first team All-American and named the FBS Offensive Guard of the year by College Football Network. Clay started every game but one at left guard, and paved the way for an elite rushing attack, including a Conference USA record 522 yards vs LA Tech. Needless to say, it took a little longer than most prospects, but Clay finally settled in as the premier talent he was predicted to be.
Player Info
Name: Clay Webb
Jersey: No. 74
Position: Offensive Guard
School: Jacksonville State
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 310 lbs.
Clay Webb’s Strengths
Clay is a powerful run blocker along the interior of the offensive line, consistently creating lanes along the line of scrimmage. He also shows elite pass protection skills, using his amazing technique and awareness to keep his Qb upright.
He is very versatile, having accumulated snaps at both center and guard, meaning NFL teams could use him at either (although this analyst thinks his future is at Guard in the NFL.) He also has stayed amazingly healthy, starting nearly every game in his career and logging high snap counts in each game.
He also has an exceptional wrestling background, which helps him in trench warfare by teaching him hand usage and how to best use his leverage. He also has shown a proven ability to dominate against all levels of competition across college football.
Clay Webb’s Weaknesses
Clay is slightly undersized for an NFL guard, which could cause a few issues with his ability to anchor against stronger defensive linemen in the NFL. You’d also like to see him add some additional mass to help withstand a full NFL season, just to prevent any injuries that could occur. He could also use additional lower body strength to help him when driving defenders back in the run game or in short yardage situations.
Draft Projection
Clay is a high level prospect along the interior of the offensive line, and I fully expect his name to be called within the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. His pedigrees shows a talented player who also has raw potential to become an all star caliber offensive lineman in the NFL. Some teams that should have Clay on their radar:
- Chicago Bears (With inconsistent play along the interior of the offensive line in Jenkins and Pryor, and Nate Davis released, the Windy City could use a major upgrade at either guard spot with a talent like Clay Webb.)
- Detroit Lions (With a center that’s considered retirement in the past in Ragnow and a guard that’s 34 in Zeitler, Detroit should be sprinting the card up to the podium for Clay Webb to get him into the Motor City.)
- San Francisco 49ers (While Puni has shown some excellent promise, his running mate on the opposite side of the line, Aaron Banks, is a free agent after this season. Why not get a young, top tier talent to get better and cheaper at the same time? John Lynch likely jumps at this opportunity.)
Ultimately, the team that selects Clay Webb is getting a blue chip prospect at the interior offensive line positions, with a predisposition to play guard better than center. He’s the type of talent you can stick at left guard and see 7-10 years of stellar play, and not have to worry about any drop off from that part of the offense.
My comparison for Clay Webb: Jonah Jackson, G/C, Los Angeles Rams/Detroit Lions
