Recruiting: The scholarship offers keep coming for Wood's Webb
It was a whirlwind of positive developments for Mark Webb. College football heavyweights Alabama, Georgia, and Iowa offered scholarships to the Archbishop Wood junior wide receiver on Monday. "That's a pretty good day's work," Wood coach Steve Devlin said.
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It was a whirlwind of positive developments for Mark Webb.
College football heavyweights Alabama, Georgia, and Iowa offered scholarships to the Archbishop Wood junior wide receiver on Monday. "That's a pretty good day's work," Wood coach Steve Devlin said.
Webb's reaction? "I was surprised," he said. "I couldn't believe it. It was like a childhood dream."
A day earlier, the 6-foot-2, 202-pounder received an invitation to the Opening Finals, a showcase event for the nation's top prospects that is scheduled for July 5-10 at Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.
Webb earned a golden-ticket invite to the Opening after his efforts at the Opening Regional last Sunday at the New York Jets practice facility in Florham Park, N.J.
The 18-year-old from Mount Airy will be joined in Oregon by St. Joseph's Prep all-purpose back D'Andre Swift and Cherry Hill West cornerback Harrison Hand.
A solid route runner with the ability to gain late separation on defenders, Webb also has offers from Maryland, North Carolina, Penn State, Rutgers, Temple, and Virginia Tech, among others.
Webb made 22 catches for 559 yards and 10 touchdowns last season as the Vikings went 11-1 and advanced to the PIAA District 12 Class 3A final before losing to eventual state titlist Imhotep Charter.
"He's got such a great work ethic," Devlin said. "I don't know if I've ever been around a kid that works as hard as him."
Webb has taken unofficial visits to Georgia, North Carolina, Penn State and Rutgers. Georgia is high on his return-trip list.
"I like everything about Georgia," he said. "I like the head coach [Kirby Smart], their receivers coaches [James Coley and Dell McGee], the facilities."
Of Penn State, Webb said, "I love it there. It has everything you could want in a school."
Webb and Swift are close friends, having played youth football together with the Enon Eagles. That has led to widespread speculation about the two standouts joining forces in college.
"Nothing's definite, but it's a strong possibility," Webb confirmed. "I'd say there's a 95 percent chance of us playing at the same school."
Webb and Swift, also a junior, recently visited Clemson, Georgia, and North Carolina together. They train regularly with Swift's father, Darren, a star running back for Frankford's 1987 Public League championship squad.
Webb, who doubles as a cornerback for Wood, is rated a four-star prospect and the No. 7 player in the state by 247Sports.com. Swift, a five-star prospect with more than 25 offers, is rated the No. 1 all-purpose back and No. 31 overall player in the nation.
An erstwhile basketball player, Webb participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Underclassmen Challenge in San Antonio in January.
"Our plan is to sit down at the end of this month and come up with a top-10 college list," Devlin said.
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