Jennings and Webb: Brothers in Arms

It often happens that two players from the same high school continue their football careers at the same collegiate program. What does not happen often, however, is two high school teammates who transfer to the same school after playing for different universities. Adonis Jennings and Greg Webb, both seniors with Temple, found themselves with the Owls after beginning their collegiate careers elsewhere.

Jennings saw great success for Timber Creek High School in Sicklersville, N.J. He was a three-year letter winner under head coach Rob Hinson and won the New Jersey state championship in 2012. On that same 2012 championship team were three future Owls: Greg Webb, Kareem Ali and Zaire Williams.

"It is nice going to high school with them and then college with them," Jennings said. "It is really weird that you get four guys from the same high school on the same college team."

During Jennings' senior year, he put up spectacular numbers, racking up 1,434 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Those stats would be good enough to earn him first team all-state in 2013, earning him a position in the Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Bowl Game.

He committed in high school to play football at the University of Pittsburgh, catching six passes for 55 yards during his freshman campaign. He even learned under Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver coach Greg Lewis, a former Philadelphia Eagle, who was the receivers coach at Pitt that season.

In his heart though, Jennings knew that his home was not in Pittsburgh. He knew he was going to come back closer to home. Former Timber Creek teammates Kareem Ali and Zaire Williams both lent him some tidbits about playing football at Temple; however, Jennings knew he had to make the decision for himself however.

"It was a decision I made on my own and I don't regret it," Jennings said. "Pitt was a great university and I do not regret going there either. I believe that everything happens for a reason."

Jennings has had success at Temple, catching 53 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns during his time with the Owls. He was even a key role in their AAC Championship run last year.

"Being on two ten-win teams, I am really honored and blessed to be a part of that historical moment," Jennings reflected. "There is a lot of people who didn't see it coming, but I did and I knew it in my heart when I came here."

Greg Webb had a stellar career with Timber Creek as well. His junior year he recorded a whopping 94 total tackles, 26 for loss along with 13 sacks. He tore his ACL before his senior season and missed two months of action due to the injury. That would not stop him, though, as he made a roaring comeback and helped the team win the New Jersey state championship. He would go on to be selected to play in the U.S Army All-American Bowl Game.

Webb saw himself take a different route to get to Temple, as he originally enrolled at the University of North Carolina. After one season, he fielded multiple offers from highly-ranked junior college programs. Eastern Mississippi, Hines Community College and Hutchinson Community College all had a big interest in Webb. In the end, though, Webb wound up choosing Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, the fourth-ranked JUCO football program in the nation at the time.

"All were 17-plus hours away so I knew I would be further away from home," Webb said. "Also I really liked the coaching staff at Hutchinson. That was the selling point for me and also the track record of athletes they had."

Webb enjoyed a period of success with Hutchinson as the team went 11-1 in his only season. He recorded 48 total tackles, forced a fumble and made two-and-a-half sacks. Just like Jennings, Webb wanted to return close to home and play college football with a signature program. He saw the opportunity when current Temple Owls' teammate Kareem Ali and former teammate Zaire Williams convinced him to join the program.

"I always wanted to go to school with all of my friends and mimic what we did in high school," Webb said. "Zaire told me how Temple is and how the campus is and how hard they were going. Because I like that 'go hard' mentality."

He joined the team last year for the 2016 season, seeing action in 13 games that year in a deep rotation at defensive line. He recorded seven total tackles in those games and recorded one-and-a-half TFLs against Tulane.

This year he has played in three of the first five games. For this weekend's upcoming matchup against ECU, Webb has been named one of the captains for the game due to his recent play and connection with North Carolina.

For Jennings and Webb, their different paths have taken them to many places away from home. What they share together – a state championship in high school and a conference championship in college – will form a lasting bond. Welcome home, brother.

Temple University Athletics

Jennings and Webb: Brothers in Arms

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