Georgia's top wide receiver commitments in Rivals.com history
With the commitment of Pennsylvania wide receiver Mark Webb, the Georgia recruiting class added another huge out-of-state get and a talented playmaker for their young quarterbacks. Here’s how Webb stacks up in Rivals history to other wide receivers that chose to play in Athens.
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report
RELATED: Webb details Bulldog choice
The skinny: Despite being a national recruit, Green avoided any recruiting drama by committing to Georgia more than a year before his own National Signing Day. After a record breaking high school career, Green continued to excel with the Bulldogs, where he totaled 166 receptions, 2,619 yards and 23 touchdowns in his three seasons. Selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 Draft by Cincinnati, Green has made the Pro Bowl after each of his five seasons with the Bengals while establishing himself as one of the more dominant wide receivers in the league.
Farrell’s take: The big debate was Green versus Julio Jones (Alabama) all year long. Jones won out, but barely and only because of his strength and power. This is the best one-two punch at wide receiver I've ever scouted and the rest of the five-stars in this class make it the best top-heavy group I've seen as well. Green's length and amazing ball skills stood out as a recruit - we knew he would be a star in college and beyond. I would say his body control puts him in my top three or so in that category as well.
The skinny: Massaquoi already held Georgia in high regard for several months, but after an extremely positive camp experience and the commitment of his high school quarterback, Joe Cox, to the Bulldogs, he committed in late June. Massaquoi had four very productive seasons in Athens, finishing his career with 158 receptions for 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns. This led him to be selected in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft by Cleveland, where he burst onto the scene as a rookie with 34 receptions for 624 yards and three touchdowns. After three more seasons with the Browns, he made his way to Jacksonville as a free agent in 2013. However, he was unable to make the Jaguars roster and ultimately never played another down in the NFL.
Farrell’s take: Massaquoi was on the same team as Chris Leak and Hakeem Nicks at Independence High School in Charlotte and never lost a game in his high school career. He was a big, physical receiver with good top-end speed,so it’s no surprise to see the success he had in college and beyond. However, he perhaps became best known for being on the other end of a James Harrison knockout blow that has been viewed a billion times online. Massaquoi was a physical receiver however who could dish it out as well.
The skinny: Bailey trimmed his list down to Georgia, Florida State, Tennessee, Florida and Virginia but only took official visits to the Bulldogs and Seminoles, which eventually became his final two. The connection that Bailey had with Coach Mark Richt ultimately was the deciding factor. Bailey had a somewhat disappointing four-year career with the Bulldogs. His best season was in 2007, when he finished with 39 receptions for 615 yards and three touchdowns. After going undrafted in 2008, Bailey never saw an NFL field after getting an initial opportunity with Kansas City.
Farrell’s take: Bailey was a can’t-miss kid who only lacked size but had everything else going for him. He was sudden and fast, he had great hands and breakaway speed and he was tough. And, as a worst case scenario, he was an aggressive cornerback on defense in high school, so it is puzzling how he didn’t pan out. A prolific pass catcher as a senior, he also had a touchdown in the U.S. Army Bowl but he never put it all together in college.
The skinny: Brown took his time with his process with official visits going to Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss, Ohio State and Tennessee. He committed to the Bulldogs over the Buckeyes, Vols and Rebels on National Signing Day. Brown’s productivity gradually increased with the Bulldogs, but he never truly reached his potential, which eventually led to him going undrafted in 2013. He signed with Baltimore as a free agent, where he had a promising rookie season with 49 receptions for 524 yards and seven touchdowns. After receiving less playing time in 2014 due to the arrival of Steve Smith, a back injury further slowed his progress in 2015. After signing with Denver as a free agent earlier this year, he was waived during the summer after another back injury. He is currently an unsigned free agent.
Farrell’s take: This kid’s top-end talent was off the hook, he was just very raw coming out of high school. He had great size and length, he was a long-strider who could run away from anyone and he touched the ball on handoffs and special teams in addition to catching passes. However, he wasn’t an accomplished route runner and the competition was bad so he was a projection based on his amazing athletic gifts. It’s a testament to those gifts that he was able to arrive in the NFL undrafted and have a dominant first year, but injuries have killed his career, it seems.
The skinny: Charles definitely took his time with his process, as he didn’t sign his papers with Georgia until a month after National Signing Day. He took official visits to Athens, plus Florida, Florida State, Tennessee and finally USC in late February before trimming his list to the Bulldogs, Trojans and Vols. He finally committed to Georgia in early March, joining his former high school quarterback Aaron Murray. After moving to tight end in college, Charles made an immediate impact for the Bulldogs during his three seasons. His best performance came during his final year when he totaled 45 receptions for 574 yards and five touchdowns. Selected in the fourth round of the 2012 Draft by Cincinnati, he spent two seasons with the Bengals before making his way to New Orleans and now Detroit, where he is on the practice squad.
Farrell’s take: The constant debate with Charles was whether he was a wide receiver or a tight end at the next level, but his talent was unquestioned. He insisted on being a wide receiver and, of course, teams told him as much, and he could have played either. His recruitment was one of the more dramatic ones in our history but never seems to get the same attention as others as he has been overshadowed by Bryce Brown, Terrelle Pryor, Jadeveon Clowney and others who took the process past National Signing Day. This was a big, nasty receiver in high school.
The skinny: With Georgia being his first offer, which happened at a summer camp in Athens after his sophomore season, the Bulldogs were always a priority for King. But with his father being a Clemson alumnus, this came down to the Bulldogs, Tigers, Georgia Tech and Florida. King made an early decision, in May, and committed to Georgia, the school most seen as the heavy favorite. At Georgia, King began to come into his own in 2010 and then totaled 89 receptions, 1,655 yards and 17 touchdowns during his final two seasons. King, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 Draft by Denver, bounced from the Broncos to Carolina, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and now the New York Giants, where he is currently on the active roster.
Farrell’s take: King was very productive in high school setting records as a senior, and his hands and route running were always his strength. While he had an extra gear, the one knock on him aside from his size was that he didn’t always use it and separation wasn’t consistent. But he bailed out his quarterbacks often in high school and college with tough catches, and has stuck in the NFL as a journeyman because he still has those sticky hands.
The skinny: Webb gradually saw his recruiting process blow up during the spring, but it was when Georgia offered that they quickly jumped to the forefront. However, even though the Bulldogs were the assumed leader by most, Webb still took his time as the summer progressed. Finally, with his friend D’Andre Swift committing to the Bulldogs in early September, Webb’s commitment seemed inevitable. That became reality on Sept. 16, when he committed to Georgia over Alabama, North Carolina, Temple, Penn State and Maryland.
Farrell’s take: Webb has good speed, especially downfield, and is a bit of a long-strider despite not being a giant receiver. He has good size, don’t get me wrong, and he will probably play at around 205 or 210 on his frame before all is said and done. He’s a solid route runner, very good at stop-start jukes and he has reliable hands. He can be dominant at times but can disappear at other times so consistency needs some work, but all the physical skills are there to be a star.