Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The Los Angeles Chargers struck gold in the 2021 NFL draft. But what’s the main trait that makes the players so great?
The Chargers’ haul from the 2021 NFL draft continues to receive high praise from the general population.
While very few have mixed feelings, I wanted to give you one thing to love about every prospect that Los Angeles drafted.
For Chargers general manager Tom Telesco, the draft starts in Mobile.
The draft starts in Mobile.
For the 32 NFL teams in attendance, the Senior Bowl is a chance to see some of college football’s top players square off in a week of practices and a full game to wrap things up in order to prove to them that they can prepare, practice and compete like pros.
Within all of the action on the football field, this is team’s first opportunity to sit down and get to know the prospects after watching them for years at their perspective school and talking to their coaches to gain more information on them.
However, this year’s Senior Bowl was even more vital to team’s evaluation process than previous ones because of the limited exposure to players during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a handful of cancelled games and opt outs.
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco already had a track record of drafting players that partook in the event. But him and the evaluators really took advantage of this one in particular, as the team went on to select five players that they had the chance to watch and meet with.
Wide receiver Josh Palmer, tight end Tre’ McKitty, offensive tackle Brenden Jaimes, running back Larry Rountree III and safety Mark Webb all participated in the 2021 Senior Bowl.
That marks 21 Senior Bowl participants that Los Angeles has either signed or drafted since 2017.
The other 16?
G Dan Feeney, Indiana – 2017
S Rayshawn Jenkins, Miami – 2017
DB Desmond King, Iowa – 2017
DE Isaac Rochell, Notre Dame – 2017
LS Cole Mazza, Alabama – 2017
DT Justin Jones, NC State – 2018
K Michael Badgley, Miami – 2018
LB Uchenna Nwosu, USC – 2018
C Scott Quessenberry, UCLA – 2018
LB Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame – 2019
S Nasir Adderley, Delaware – 2019
QB Justin Herbert, Oregon — 2020
RB Joshua Kelley, UCLA — 2020
S Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame — 2020
WR K.J. Hill, Ohio State — 2020
Telesco stuck to his guns this year, bringing in good football players that are also good people, tough, competitive and fit the culture of what he wants them to be both on and off the field.
Georgia defensive back Mark Webb was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers with Pick 241 in the 2021 NFL draft. Details here
The Los Angeles Chargers have selected Georgia defensive back Mark Webb in the seventh round (No. 241) of the 2021 NFL draft.
Webb is a former four-star receiver out of Philadelphia in the Bulldogs’ 2017 recruiting class who converted to defense and contributed to an elite Georgia defense over the last three seasons.
Webb played the ‘star’ position, a hybrid between a linebacker and defensive back that uses versatility to do a variety of things in the secondary. In 49 games played, Webb racked up 82 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, an interception, 9 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles.
While Webb was forced to share playing time with a talented Georgia secondary, he made things count on Georgia’s pro day on March 17. He jumped 11 feet, 4 inches in the broad jump, which was just two inches shy of the mark Jeremy Chinn set at the top of the leaderboard for defensive backs at last year’s NFL combine. His 36.5-inch vertical jump and 80-inch wingspan opened eyes as well.
Check out Webb intercept Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman at the Reese’s Senior Bowl this year.
TIP DRILL! LSU's JaCoby Stevens (@jacobystevens7) nearly jumps TOO HIGH to tip this pass…and Georgia's Mark Webb (@humblehead_mark) is there for the interception – recording one of the top plays from day 2 at the @senior bowl@UGASportscom @TigerDetails pic.twitter.com/a1oDZ2gxHk
— Rivals (@Rivals) January 27, 2021
Get caught up on all things Georgia football NFL draft with this week’s episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton”
What do you think of this seven-round mock?
As the 2021 NFL draft approaches, now officially three weeks away, the Indianapolis Colts will be a team to watch. Given their history of finding gems throughout the draft, Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports ran a seven-round mock draft for Indy.
Without any trades going down, which is unlikely for Chris Ballard, the Colts found their new left tackle, an intriguing edge rusher a new pass-catching weapon that feel mightily.
Here’s how the mock draft went for the Colts:
Six Georgia Bulldogs are attending this year’s Senior Bowl and they all received official measurements.
Six Georgia Bulldogs are attending this year’s Reese’s Senior Bowl. Georgia’s Ben Cleveland, Monty Rice, DJ Daniel, Mark Webb, Tre’ McKitty, and Malik Herring are all participating in the Senior Bowl and the events leading up to it.
Richard LeCounte accepted an invitation to the game, but later decided against participating. Another player to watch is former UGA transfer quarterback Jamie Newman, who sat out the season, but is at the Senior Bowl. He has as much to gain or lose as anybody at the Senior Bowl.
The Senior Bowl is a post-season game that is compiled of some of college football’s most talented seniors. It serves as preparation for the NFL Draft. The practices and game are heavily attended by NFL scouts who have had limited opportunities to see players in person this season.
The 2021 Senior Bowl is scheduled for Jan. 30 and will showcase a large number of college football’s top NFL Draft prospects. Prospects have no NFL Combine this year, so the Senior Bowl is more important than usual. Additionally, Georgia’s pro day is especially important this year.
Here’s all of the Georgia Bulldogs who received official measurements at the Senior Bowl:
Three Georgia football players make decision to opt out of bowl game, ending their time in Athens playing for the Bulldogs.
Three Bulldogs who have played pivotal roles within the team have decided to opt out of Georgia’s upcoming bowl game, ending their time in the red and black. Among those players are graduate senior tight end Tre’ McKitty, senior defensive back DJ Daniel and senior inside linebacker Monty Rice.
UGASports.com initially broke the news, followed by multiple reports confirming the opt outs.
No. 8 ranked Georgia (7-2) could very well play Clemson in the Orange Bowl, should Notre Dame beat the Tigers in the ACC Championship Game today. If Clemson comes out on top, the projection is that Georgia will likely face off against Cincinnati in the Peach Bowl.
Isaiah Wilson, J.R Reed and Andrew Thomas all skipped last year’s Sugar Bowl victory over Baylor and Deandre Baker skipped the Sugar Bowl during the 2018-19 season. This is starting to become a trend, especially for Georgia’s defensive players trying to stay healthy for the NFL draft.
There are still some question marks surrounding other players on the Dawgs’ roster. UGASports additionally reported that defensive backs Mark Webb, Richard LeCounte and Eric Stokes are also leaning towards an opt out, as is offensive guard Ben Cleveland.
Although this season didn’t turn out how Dawgs fans wanted, there is a bright future in Athens with head coach Kirby Smart locking in the 3rd best recruiting class in the nation so far. Georgia’s bowl game will be announced Sunday afternoon following the conference championships on Saturday.
Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Mark Webb has accepted an invitation to the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Mark Webb has accepted an invitation to the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Mark Webb is a senior out of Archbishop Wood High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Webb has come a long way since arriving in Athens as a four-star wide receiver recruit. Webb converted to defensive back in 2017 and primarily plays the slot cornerback position. He’s proven himself to be a steady run defender and a consistent tackler. Webb will look to improve upon his coverage versus elite competition.
Mark Webb’s acceptance of the Reese’s Senior Bowl invitation means he’ll in all likelihood declare for the 2021 NFL Draft following the college football season. This season is unique for college football because players who played in every game this season can return next year without elapsing any of their eligibility. Webb will play in his final home game Dec. 5 against Vanderbilt.
Webb joins fellow Georgia Bulldogs players to accept an invitation to the game like tight end Tre’ McKitty, offensive lineman Ben Cleveland and defensive lineman Malik Herring. Bulldog fans should expect several more Dawgs to accept invitations to the game. Look for a lot of Georgia Bulldogs to be selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Welcome DB Mark Webb (@humblehead_mark) from @GeorgiaFootball to the @Reeses Senior Bowl!!! 😤😤😤#GoDawgs #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE #BestOfTheBest@JimNagy_SB @PaniniAmerica #RatedRookie pic.twitter.com/M78Ohzeqap
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) December 4, 2020
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We take a look at some key player matchups to keep an eye on going into Georgia football’s season opener at Arkansas.
There is officially only one day until Georgia football returns for the 2020 season, kicking off in Fayetteville, Arkansas against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The Dawgs are favored by a whopping 26.5 points (odds courtesy of BetMGM) but there are still some marquee matchups to be seen played out on the field this Saturday.
Georgia LB Nakobe Dean vs. Arkansas RB Rakeem Boyd:
Arkansas senior running back Rakeem Boyd has shown his ability to catch passes in the past, catching a total of 19 last season. The Razorbacks’ new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles will likely try and get creative with this matchup and get Boyd much more involved in the passing game. Georgia sophomore linebacker Nakobe Dean will need to read Boyd and Briles well this game to not only contain Boyd as a rusher but also as a receiver. Eliminating Boyd from this game will most likely paralyze Arkansas’ offensive scheme, and it all starts with Dean.
Georgia RB Zamir White vs. Arkansas LB Bumper Pool:
Georgia running back Zamir White is coming off of his biggest game in last years Sugar Bowl, where he rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. White also has had a strong preseason camp, his knee looking as healthy as ever. Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool has some great instincts at the linebacker position and is also a very solid athlete. He was second on the team in tackles and had five pass breakups in 2019. White will open up a lot of options for Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken, forcing Pool to focus on the run game. With the addition of junior running back James Cook, ready to take on a much bigger role with D’Andre Swift now in the NFL, Georgia’s running backs could be a matchup nightmare for the Hogs’ linebackers.
Georgia QB D’Wan Mathis and OC Todd Monken vs. Arkansas DC Barry Odom:
Georgia’s offense and Arkansas’ defense both feature a number of new faces this year. There will be a lot of feeling the other team out early on in this game since neither side has had much of an opportunity to scout the other. Monken is well know for taking advantage of mismatches so lookout for some deep balls thrown to sophomore wide receiver George Pickens in the Arkansas secondary. Monken will also probably try and use Cook a lot in the short receiving game once Pickens starts to draw multiple defenders deep. Georgia has the edge on paper here but they are still starting redshirt freshman quarterback in D’Wan Mathis, who no one has seen much of lately. Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom will likely lay some early pressure on Mathis and the new Georgia offensive line. Mathis and the Dawgs offense will need to stay poised and put trust in Monken’s play calling even if they take some hits early on.
Georgia’s secondary vs. Arkansas WR Treylon Burks:
Arkansas sophomore wide receiver Treylon Burks is a complete offensive Swiss-Army Knife. He stands at 6-foot-3, 232 pounds and was used in the Arkansas run and pass game very well his freshman season. He was the Razorback’s leader in receiving yards as a freshman but had no touchdowns. Kendal Briles will definitely try and get Burks involved early with some big plays but he will need to get past a mean Dawgs secondary in Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, Mark Webb and DJ Daniel. This should be one of the best matchups of Saturday’s game.
Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Mark Webb is among the favorites to win the starting role at nickel or STAR corner next season
Mark Webb, Defensive Back (No. 23):
Class: Senior
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200 pounds
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
High School: Archbishop Wood High School
Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Mark Webb is among the favorites to win the starting role at nickel or STAR corner next season. He’ll be competing with primarily Tyrique Stevenson and Divaad Wilson.
Webb started nine games at the STAR position last season. He recorded 46 tackles last season, fifth best on UGA. Webb will help UGA have a lengthy streak of players from Philadelphia. Can Philly be the latest recruiting hotbed for the Dawgs?
Webb began his career as a four-star wide receiver. He converted to cornerback during the 2017 season.
Webb may get drafted in 2021, provided he has a solid season next year.
Hard to imagine any team having more upperclassmen DB talent than @GeorgiaFootball. Seniors DS Richard LeCounte and CBs D.J. Daniel & Mark Webb are all next-level players. RS junior CB Eric Stokes is also a @seniorbowl candidate if he grads in December. #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/Sow4qhykez
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) May 18, 2020
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