Georgia offensive lineman Clay Webb, who appeared in two games as a freshman last season, is named in a federal lawsuit accusing him of bullying.
Webb, a 5-star recruit from Oxford, Ala., is one of three individuals from Oxford High School accused of tricking an unnamed plaintiff into consuming a sports drink allegedly containing Webb’s semen.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution obtained a copy of the lawsuit, which was first reported by AL.com.
UGA acknowledged that it is aware of the accusation in a statement provided via email by spokesperson.
“While we cannot comment on this individual student matter, we review allegations of misconduct by our student-athletes and hold accountable those that do not meet our expectations,” the statement read.
It’s not known if Webb has retained legal counsel. The plaintiff’s attorney is Eric Artrip of Huntsville.
According to Atrip, there was an criminal investigation into the incident. The minor defendant in the case was prosecuted, Webb was not.
"I’ve spoken with the prosecutor who handled the case,” Artrip told the AJC. “Webb was not prosecuted criminally for some really good reasons; the other young man involved was.
“(Webb) was absolutely aware of the severity of this thing and how seriously the family took the actions. If he didn’t know this was coming, he certainly should have."
Webb graduated from Oxford in December 2018 and entered UGA as an early enrollee last January. He was rated the No. 1 center in the nation in 2018 by 247Sports.com and is expected to eventually play that position for the Bulldogs.
Wesley Brooks, Oxford High’s baseball coach, and an unnamed minor also are named defendants in the lawsuit. The plaintiff — a minor referred to in the lawsuit by the fictitious name of John Doe — seeks compensatory and punitive damages from the coach and students.
Other details alleged in the complaint:
• In October 2018, Webb and fellow students present in an Oxford High locker encouraged the victim to drink from a Powerade bottle that, unknown to him, contained Webb's semen. After consuming the contents of the bottle, the plaintiff was told they were soiled by Webb. The plaintiff allegedly tried unsuccessfully to make himself vomit and then called his father to pick him up.
• The plaintiff was subjected to acts of bullying over the next couple of months. Those included being called homophobic slurs and having sports drink bottles left for him "with insulting notes attached."
• The plaintiff transferred to a private high school in 2019.
• The plaintiff has experienced extreme and ongoing emotional, mental, and physical anguish as a result of the actions.
“This is not a boys will be boys kind of case,” Artrip said. “This is something pretty serious that has caused this young man a lot of problems. It’s not insignificant what happened to him, either in the actual event or any of the aftermath. What happened to him afterward, with the taunts and bullying, really made his high school environment hell, and that’s why he transferred out of there.”
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