Georgia football: How did we miss Mark Webb’s transition to DB?

One of the top players from the 2017 Georgia football recruiting class hasn’t been playing his recruited position for a few weeks

Kirby Smart had a chance to poke fun of the media earlier this week. Before the game with Notre Dame, many Georgia football scribes noticed Mark Webb practicing with the defensive backs. However, Webb has actually been practicing the position for a few weeks. Smart got a kick out of teasing media personnel for not noticing what wasn’t hidden from them.

But this transition is notable because Webb was highly coveted as a wide receiver. 247 Sports ranked Webb as the no. 21 receiver in the nation and the no. 135 player overall. He’s also the cousin of fellow freshman D’Andre Swift who’s been very impressive so far this season.

In injury to senior cornerback Malkom Parrish and other minor injuries forced the coaches to look to other option in the defensive backfield. Plus, targeting penalties aren’t getting any more lenient so depth is always a must at those positions.

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And it’s worth noting that Smart wants to bring in bigger defensive backs. Webb is 6’2 and around 200 pounds, right in Smart’s wheelhouse. The change isn’t meant to be permanent, and Webb will likely start working with receivers again when Parris returns and other players are back to 100 percent.

However, the coaches say they’ve been impressed with Webb on defense and Smart pointed out how he played cornerback in high school. He also stated how Georgia only has one senior at receiver and four seniors in the defensive bac

kfield. Meaning in the future, they’ll be looking to replace way more defensive backs than receivers.

Webb is yet to see the field besides special teams work, but Richard LeCounte is the only true freshman at either position to record a stat on offense or defense. As the season progresses, those freshman will likely begin seeing the field more. Starting this week as Georgia hosts Samford, a team that they should have a comfortable enough lead in during the third quarter to play some younger guys.

Next: Observations of Georgia's opponents after week two

Is Webb the next Brandon Boykin, Branden Smith or Champ Bailey? Time will tell. But for now, as Smart said praising Webb, “He originally wanted to play receiver, but I never really met a more selfless kid who said, It don’t matter coach I just want to play.”