Tennessee football transfer Kaleb Webb explains Maryland pick, breaks down potential starting quarterbacks
The Georgia native had a connection to the Maryland staff from his high school recruitment.
Former Tennessee wide receiver Kaleb Webb announced his commitment to Maryland on Tuesday, becoming the Terps' first portal addition this offseason.
Webb, a former four-star recruit from suburban Georgia, played in 23 games as a Volunteer, totaling 22 catches for 214 yards and one touchdown. He joins the Maryland program with two years of eligibility remaining.
"I just entered the portal because I really just expected a bigger role at Tennessee, and I feel like I was good enough to just be on the field somewhere," Webb told InsideMDSports. "I have two years left, so I want to have two years of production. And I've seen that Maryland has had a lot of production, and really just like Coach [Mike Locksley], wherever he's been, there's been a lot of receiver production. So I feel like I could just fit in there."
With Tai Felton and Kaden Prather graduating, Maryland needs receivers badly, including a big-bodied receiver like Webb (6-foot-3, 204 pounds) with Prather gone. It helped that Webb had a prior relationship with running backs coach Latrell Scott. Visiting the program checked off all other boxes.
"I was just looking for a situation where ... My mom's a schoolteacher, I wanted [to go] somewhere I can get a meaningful degree, as well as a majority of my credits being able to transfer over from Tennessee," Webb said. "And then just looking for a good culture, good coaching staff, and a team that was in need of a bigger-bodied receiver, and somewhere I could just come in and be effective on and off the field. At Maryland, Coach Scott recruited me when he was at ECU a few years ago when I was in high school, and he was one of the first people to reach out to me once I went into the portal. So that relationship, I kind of had Maryland always in the back of my mind. That relationship has been close to me, so I feel like that was just like a no-brainer, almost."
Another connection to the program is in quarterback MJ Morris, with whom Webb played 7-on-7 football in high school. Despite the Terps not having a starting quarterback set in stone, it wasn't a deterrent for Webb in seeking a landing spot.
"I played seven on seven with MJ in high school, so I know what kind of caliber quarterback he is, and he played towards the back end of the season," Webb said. "Honestly, I feel like he can just be just as effective as Billy Edwards was, and they speak really highly of [Malik Washington]. I haven't really had to do my deep dive on him, but I know they speak very highly of him within the building. Coach Locks, I feel like he just has a quarterback-friendly offense as well. So I feel like whoever is at that position really can be effective as a quarterback, so I'm not really worried about that."
Webb visited College Park before taking a visit to Wake Forest. He committed to the Demon Deacons last week, before head coach Dave Clawson resigned from his position this week, prompting Webb to reevaluate his commitment and flip to Maryland.
"The facilities are amazing, and the coaching staff really was just really welcoming," Webb said. "They're losing a lot of production at the receiver position, so they want to have some guys come in and be able to compete to basically replace that production. And that was very welcoming to me, having two years left and just really looking to produce. I think they had like 250 targets between Tai Felton and [Kaden Prather] last year, so that was that really stood out to me. Just the ability, [to have] a fair chance to come in and compete. I feel like Coach Locks made that very clear to me, and that's all I can really ask for out of a coaching staff, so that stood out to me."
Webb played in a career-high 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2023, seeing time on offense and on special teams, but saw a decrease in role in 2024. While the coaching staff's thought process is unknown, Webb is excited for the new opportunity.
"I feel like everything happens for a reason," Webb said. "Maybe this is just like God's plan for me to find that new spot in another place. But, yeah, I'm really just looking forward to affecting the game whichever way I can, whether that's on special teams, offense or just any anywhere they need me to be. I'm looking forward to really just doing it all, and I'm excited for not only like offense, but being able to make some special teams plays as well."
Coming from Tennessee in the SEC, Webb will have the opportunity to test himself in the Big Ten, making him experienced in the two top conferences in college football. The Big Ten's national footprint opens the door to a wide range of opponents and philosophies from coast to coast.
"I feel like the SEC has prepared me a lot," Webb said. "It really doesn't get any better, but between Big Ten football and SEC football, I feel like I'm going to another competitive conference. I know in the SEC I probably faced more press [coverage] than I would in the in the Big Ten, so I feel like that's prepared me, just from a route running perspective and physicality standpoint. I feel like I should be able to come into the Big Ten and be able to contribute and execute on my assignments."
Webb will join the Maryland program this winter and be on campus for winter workouts and spring practice ahead of the 2025 season.
