Smart explains move of Mark Webb to defensive back

Mark Webb has been moved to defensive back, head coach Kirby Smart confirmed after practice on Tuesday.

Apparently, he’s been there a while

"Lemme say this first: I'm very disappointed in you guys. He's been there for two weeks. I really don't know where you guys have been. So, I've been a little bit shocked. We didn't try to hide it. We didn't move him around in individual. We didn't put him in a black jersey,” Smart said. “I kept asking Claude (Felton): What are these guys doing? Then it shocked me that y'all got it in the game and it came by way of a, I guess, a roster announcement or something. We probably shouldn't have done that, y'all still wouldn't have known.”

But why?

During fall camp, Smart commented on Webb several times, complimenting his work with the wide receivers.

But due to depth issues in the secondary – the absence of backup Rashad Roundtree and Malkom Parrish still out with an ankle injury – Smart said a move needed to be made.

“We obviously have had concerns with injuries at that position. And we have a little more depth at receiver. He's been making plays on special teams. He tackles people. He played corner in high school. It's not necessarily permanent,” Smart said. “But he's done a really good job. I really think he's got a bright future there.”

Still, the move may not be permanent.

“We'll sit down and revisit it when the time comes to see what he really wants to do. 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. He's playing. He's playing on kick return, kickoff coverage, kickoff return,” Smart said. “So, he's a valuable asset that we felt like if AD (Aaron Davis) didn't improve and get well; Malkom, we don't know when he's getting back for sure. Things are looking better and better with him. We just didn't have enough guys. So, we moved him over there and to be honest with you he's been a really pleasant surprise."

The decision to move Webb was kept under wraps until Saturday’s game at Notre Dame when he came out wearing No. 23 as opposed to his customary No. 81, which he wore during Georgia’s season-opening win against Appalachian State.

Smart made it clear the decision to move Webb had nothing to do with how Georgia’s other freshmen receivers were performing.

“Not at all. I’m not saying that at all. Webb was one of the most talented freshmen receivers we had. We also as far as I know have one senior receiver,” Smart said. “We’ve got one, two, three, four guys in the secondary who are seniors, so we’re one year away from depletion at one spot and not the other. We made this decision as a one-, two-, three-week, possibly one-year decision that could pay off for us.”