The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly had William and Mary cornerback B.W. Webb in for a pre draft visit on Thursday, and once again, our scouting buddy Dave-Te\’ Thomas was kind enough to give us his detailed scouting report profile on him, which you can read below. Make sure to listen to the last week\’s episode of the podcast as we had Thomas on for nearly a full hour talking about the Steelers draft and prospects.
WILLIAM WILSON “B.W.” WEBB, JR.
Cornerback
The College of William & Mary Tribe
#2
5:10.2-183
Newport News, Virginia
Warwick High School
OVERVIEW
While most small college players perform out of the media spotlight, Webb captured the attention of the nation with a sensational freshman season, followed by consistent performances as he started every game for the Tribe throughout his career. A great ball hawk, he closed out his career tied for eighth in school history with eleven interceptions.
But, it was his first year as a collegian that truly stands out. The Colonial Athletic Association and Eastern College Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year became the first freshman to ever lead his league in interceptions, as his eight pass thefts in 2009 is tied for third on the Tribe’s annual record chart.
Webb would cap his career with an All-American season, becoming just the third defensive back at the college to earn national recognition since William & Mary began playing football in 1893. With his cat-like quickness, vision and leaping ability, he would register thirty passes defended during his career, adding to his resume as an efficient return specialist, as his 604 yards gained rank third on the school’s all-time punt return chart.
Handling a variety of roles is nothing new to Webb, as he was a two-year starter as a wide receiver, safety and cornerback for head coach Stan Sexton at Warwick High School, in addition to serving as the team’s return specialist. During his senior season, he earned All-Peninsula District first-team honors after averaging 18.2 yards as a punt returner, running back three kicks for touchdowns. As a junior, he was named All-Peninsula District honorable mention.
Webb recorded seven interceptions as a starter, finding the end zone twice with those pass thefts. In addition to being a shutdown cornerback in 2007, Webb also excelled in track, where he was selected to the All-American Track team as a sprinter, turning in a career-best clocking of 6.6 seconds in the 55-meter dash. He also performed in the long jump and triple jump. A fine all-around athlete, he was also a member of the Raiders’ basketball team.
Webb red-shirted during his first season at William & Mary in 2008, as he spent the year trying to add much needed bulk to his frame. As a “strapping” 160-pound red-shirt fresh-man, he took over field cornerback duties in 2009 and had an explosive college debut. In addition to leading the CAA, he ranked eighth in the nation with his eight pass thefts, returning two interceptions for touchdowns while gaining 160 yards.
He also ranked second in the league with an 8.17-yard average on 30 punt returns, tacking on 26 yards on two kickoff returns. On defense, he broke up three more pass attempts and recorded 23 tackles, including three stops-for-loss. He became the first NCAA Football Championship Subdivision player to earn Bronko Nagurski National Defensive player of the Week honors after he intercepted three passes, including one that he returned 50 yards for a score in the Virginia contest.
Webb earned All-CAA first-team defensive honors in 2010, adding second-team accolades as a punt returner. He handled 19 punts for a 9.84-yard average, including a 64-yard score in the Virginia Military Institute clash. He also posted 42 tackles while deflecting five passes and intercepting another after moving to boundary cornerback, where he would remain for the rest of his career.
As a junior, the All-CAA first-team extended his consecutive starts string to 37 games, coming up with 40 tackles and three stops behind the line of scrimmage. He added two more interceptions to his career total of eleven and knocked down three others tosses.
In 2012, he received All-American and All-CAA distinction on both the defensive and special team squads. He delivered a career-high 46 tackles, as he caused a fumble and recovered two others. He broke up eight passes, but for the first time, he did not have any interceptions. He averaged 11.18 yards on eleven punts, returning one 91 yards for a score vs. Delaware and also averaged 16.45 yards as a kickoff returner.
Webb later received an invitation to play in the 2013 Senior Bowl. Since its inception, only six other Tribe players have ever had the honor of playing in that game, and Webb would be the first to compete in Mobile, Alabama since the 1990 contests. Others that played in the bowl were fullback Jack Cloud and tackle Lou Creekmur in 1950; end Vito Ragazzo in 1951; running back Ed Mioduszewski in 1953; tackle T.W. Alley in 1964; and place-kicker Steve Christie in 1990.
Webb had a very impressive performance throughout the week-long practices leading up to the game. He would further enhance his draft stock one month later at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine. He showed off his foot speed by clocking 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash, as he also had some of the best performances among those in Indianapolis in the 20-yard short shuttle (3.84 seconds); 60-yard shuttle (11.06), vertical jump (40 ½-inches) and long jump (11’0”).
CAREER NOTES
Webb started all 48 games (school record) that he played in for William & Mary – the first fourteen at field cornerback and the final 34 at boundary cornerback, as he recorded 151 tackles (100 solos) with 7.5 stops for losses of 25 yards, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, as he deflected nineteen passes and gained 171 yards with two touchdowns on eleven interceptions…His pass theft totals tied Billy Parker (1999-03), Palmer Scarritt (1989-92), Mike Stewart (1972-74) and Chip Young (1965-67)for eighth on the school career-record chart, while his eight interceptions in 2009 marked the first time a freshman led the Colonial Athletic Association (formerly the Yankee Conference and the Atlantic 10 Conference) in interceptions for a season…The only other Tribe player to ever lead the league in pass thefts was Darren Sharper, who shared the title in 1994 with seven, followed by the league-best seven interceptions again in 1995 and with ten thefts during the 1996 schedule…Webb’s eight interceptions rank third on the W&M season-record chart behind Sharper’s ten in 1996 and Jack Bruce’s ten in 1947…Returned 70 punts for 604 yards (8.63 avg) and two touchdowns, as only Darren Sharper (1,027; 1993-96) and Palmer Scarritt (797; 1989-92) had more punt return yards in a career for the Tribe…Had thirteen kickoff returns for 207 yards (15.92 avg).
2012 SEASON
Webb earned All-American first-team honors from The NFL Draft Report and Phil Steele, adding second-team accolades from the Associated Press and the Sports Network, as he became just the third defensive back in school history to receive that recognition, joining safety Mark Kelso (honorable mention in 1984) and Darren Sharper (honorable mention in 1994 and first-team in both 1995 and ’96)…Named the Colonial Athletic Association co-Special Teams Player of the Year, he was a first-team All-CAA choice as both a defensive back and return specialist…Named to the ECAC All-Star first-team, as the senior started all eleven games at boundary cornerback…Did not have any interceptions for the first time during his career, but deflected eight passes, recovered two fumbles, caused another and recorded a career-best 46 tackles (32 solos) that included a stop for a 2-yard loss…Had eleven punts for 123 yards (11.18 avg) and a touchdown…Added 181 yards on eleven kick-off returns (16.45 avg), as he was selected as the Touchdown Club of Virginia Special Teams Player of the Year…Made five tackles vs. Towson and returned three kickoffs for 55 yards, adding 98 yards on three punt returns, including a 91-yard touchdown vs. Delaware…Registered seven tackles (5 solos) and broke up two passes in the Penn clash and tallied nine solo tackles with a stop for a 2-yard loss, as he also recovered and caused a fumble vs. New Hampshire…Closed out his career with back-to-back five-tackle performances vs. Old Dominion (one pass break-up) and Richmond (two deflections and 40 yards on two kickoff returns).
2011 SEASON
Webb received first-team All-CAA honors for the second consecutive year, as the boundary cornerback started all eleven games for the Tribe…Registered 40 tackles (24 solos) with two stops for losses of 5 yards…Deflected three passes and gained eleven yards on a pair of interceptions…Returned ten punts for 49 yards…Posted a season-high eight tackles with a stop-for-loss in the opener at Virginia…Totaled six tackles, all solo, with an interception in the win vs. New Haven…Intercepted a pass vs. Villanova, as the theft came on a fourth-&-2 situation deep in W&M territory during the fourth quarter to help the Tribe defeat VU…Registered five tackles, four solo, in the victory vs. sixth-ranked New Hampshire.
2010 SEASON
Webb was selected to the All-CAA first-team as a cornerback and garnered second-team honors as a punt returner…Finished the season with 42 tackles (28 solos) and assisted on a stop behind the line of scrimmage, as he started all twelve games at the boundary cornerback position…Deflected five passes and intercepted another…Ranked second in the league with nineteen punt returns for 187 yards (9.84 avg) and a touchdown…Had his interception at Old Dominion, halting the Monarchs\’ final drive, as he also equaled a season-high with six tackles…Posted a six-tackle performance in the season opener at Massachusetts and registered five tackles with a pass break-up at North Carolina…Made four stops on a pair of occasions, coming vs. Delaware and James Madison…Honored as the CAA Special Teams Player of the Week after his impressive performance in the win vs. Virginia Military Institute, as he returned two punts for 73 yards, which included a 64-yard touchdown return.
2009 SEASON
Webb was honored as the CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year and the ECAC Rookie of the Year…Selected to the All-CAA second-team as a cornerback and was a third-team choice as a punt returner…Named an ECAC All-Star and earned first-team All-State accolades from the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association…Tied for second nationally with eight interceptions, the third-best total in a season by a Tribe member, as he gained 160 yards and set the single-season freshman school record with two touchdown run-backs…Finished second in the league with 245 yards on 30 punt returns (8.17 avg) and gained 26 yards on two kickoff returns…Started all fourteen games at field cornerback, as he totaled 23 tackles (16 solos) with three stops-for-loss…Also deflected three throws…
Became the first FCS player honored as the FWAA Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting three passes, one of which he returned 50 yards for a touchdown, in the win at Virginia…Also added to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List and was selected as the Sports Network National Player of the Week, a College Sporting News National All-Star and the CAA Defensive Player of the Week following his great performance at UVA…Chosen as the CAA Special Teams Player of the Week the following week after returning three punts for 89 yards in the victory vs. Central Connecticut State, as he also made five stops and a tackle-for-loss vs. the Blue Devils…Intercepted two passes, one of which he returned 58 yard for a score, and notched a stop behind the line of scrimmage in the NCAA opening round victory vs. Weber State…Had interceptions in wins vs. Northeastern and New Hampshire, as well as the NCAA quarterfinal victory at top-ranked Southern Illinois.
2008 SEASON
Webb was a member of travel squad, but did not see any game action.
INJURY REPORT
No major injuries reported.
AGILITY TESTS
4.46 in the 40-yard dash…1.55 10-yard dash…2.50 20-yard dash…3.84 20-yard shuttle…
11.06 60-yard shuttle…6.82 three-cone drill…40 ½-inch vertical jump…11’0” broad jump… Bench pressed 225 pounds 14 times…30 1/8-inch arm length…9 5/8-inch hands…72 ½-inch wingspan.
HIGH SCHOOL
Webb attended Warwick (Newport News, Va.) High School, playing football for head coach Stan Sexton…Was a two-year starter as a wide receiver, safety and cornerback, as he also served as the team’s return specialist…During his senior season, he earned All-Peninsula District first-team honors after averaging 18.2 yards as a punt returner, running back three kicks for touchdowns…As a junior, he was named All-Peninsula District honorable mention…Recorded seven interceptions as a starter, finding the end zone twice with those pass thefts…In addition to being a shutdown cornerback in 2007, Webb also excelled in track, where he was selected to the All-American Track team as a sprinter, turning in a career-best clocking of 6.6 seconds in the 55-meter dash…Also performed in the long jump and triple jump…A fine all-around athlete, he was also a member of the Raiders’ basketball team.
PERSONAL
Kinesiology and Health Sciences major…President of the Alpha Delta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity…Son of Avis and William Webb…Born 5/03/90…Resides in Newport News, Virginia.
