OXFORD, Ala. — Clay Webb is a top 10 prospect in the country on Rivals.com. The 2019 offensive lineman out of Oxford is strong as an ox, he dominates in the trenches and he is one of the most sought after prospects in the South.
Being from Alabama, most expect the 6-foot-3, 295 pound junior to end up in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) or Auburn (Ala.) when he signs his letter of intent. Outside of those two schools in his home state, Webb is looking at Clemson, Florida and Georgia among others.
He is searching for the right fit.
"I am open to going anywhere right now," said Webb. "I will go where I think is best for me. I want to get a great education, I want to play and I am looking for that perfect fit. I am also looking at who can make me the best I can be. That is what I am looking for now.
"If that school is out of state, then I will go there. I am open to going anywhere."
An SEC school outside his home state that he just popped up at over the summer is Florida. The coaches did not expect him at The Swamp, but seeing Webb was a pleasant surprise.
The Gators made a nice first impression on him.
"I like the way the players and the coaches interacted when I was at Florida. That stood out to me the most there. It was more like a brotherhood, which I like, so that stood out.
"I also got to talk with the coaches some and they made a good first impression. It is a school I am interested in and I want to get back down there."
Webb does not go to schools in the summer to just hang out. The five star likes to work, compete and to get better. He worked out at Clemson and he related well to the coach who coaches his position there.
"It was my second time at Clemson when I was there for camp in the summer. The facilities are very nice and the offensive line coach (Robbie Caldwell) reminds me a lot of my coaches now. We got along great.
"I like the environment there and the people are just great. I had a great time there."
Georgia is another out-of-state school Webb has camped at the last two summers and taken in a game at last year. The Bulldog's offensive line coach stands out to him.
"I really like how Georgia handles their recruiting and how they are recruiting me," said Webb. "It is a little different there and I really like coach [Sam] Pittman, the offensive line coach. I think he is very smart and he is cool to work with. I do not know the players there yet, so we will see how that goes when that happens, but coach Pittman is pretty awesome."
When talking the in-state schools, Webb knows the most about those programs. He has visited Alabama and Auburn multiple times since middle school and he likes the players and the people at these schools.
"The best thing about Alabama to me is the players. I like how they bond together, work together, push each other and just play as a team. I got to spend the night over there and I spent a lot of time around the players. They just work hard together. The coaches are great and I like how they play, but the players to me is what I think about first.
"At Auburn, the community is great. The fans are so nice, the people there support the team and everyone it is a like one big family there. The coaches there are great too and it is always fun when I am there."
Webb was adamant about not having any favorites at this time and he does not plan to have those for a while. When asked about recruiting, and how much he thinks about it, he politely said, "Not much right now."
His focus is on his season and school. It is likely to be on those same things this time a year from now.
"I am not going to commit early," said Webb. "I am going to take my time, I will think long and hard about my decision and I am not going to rush it.
"I plan to wait until I am a senior to commit, so I am not even thinking about that right now. I will take some visits and do camps again next summer, then start to think about that a little more. I am definitely going to take my time with it."
Many recruits commit early. Many love social media. Many care about their ranking. Webb is different. Instead of being on Twitter or Instagram all night, he is reading books and educating himself. Webb is happy with his ranking, but he keeps it into great perspective too.
"Being a five-star prospect is a great honor, but I am not one to bring it up a lot or talk about it much. It feels great to be recognized as one of the best, but I will just continue to work to be even better. All I am concerned about is being the best I can be on and off the field and helping my team."
