Andru Phillips, CB Kentucky: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Phillips was a three-star recruit from Mauldin High School in Mauldin, S.C. in the class of 2020
Kentucky sent several cornerbacks to the NFL this past draft. Former slot defender Andru Phillips will step into an outside corner role this coming season. Phillips is still a raw prospect, but he’s one of the most gifted athletes in the 2024 NFL Draft class.
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Andru Phillips, CB Kentucky: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Redshirt junior slot and outside cornerback from Mauldin, S.C.
Background: Phillips was a three-star recruit from Mauldin High School in Mauldin, S.C. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 640 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 591 for On3.com. Phillips was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 77 grade out of 100. As a high school senior, he amassed 38 tackles, eight passes defensed, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Phillips earned 5A First Team All-State honors from the South Carolina Football Coaches Association and was selected for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. He lettered three times as a triple jumper in track and field, ranking first nationally in 2020. Phillips won the 2019 spring state championship title by jumping 49’4″. He earned two All-State and three All-Region selections in the triple jump. Phillips’ father, Carlos, is a former Kentucky linebacker. His brother, C.J., played football at Morehead State from 2012-2016 and was a Second Team All-Pioneer Football League selection in his final season.
Injuries & Off-Field: Accused but cleared of first-degree burglary in 2021
Awards: 2022 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units, amassed more than ten total special teams tackles in 2022, experience playing in the slot and at outside corner, good size for a slot corner, explosive and springy athlete, hips are fairly fluid, fast feet, enough speed to carry deep threats vertically, decent recovery speed, impressive vertical leaping, plays the receiver’s hands when he doesn’t get his head around, quick to click and close on short routes, quick to recognize and attack screens, willing to challenge blockers, willing run defender, quickly rallies to the ball
Cons: Enters 2023 with only one season of 100 or more defensive snaps, arm length could be questionable, outmatched by receivers in play strength, attempts to be aggressive with the receiver early in the route often miss the mark, allows receivers to blow past him in off-man because of poor technique, lack of anticipation makes it difficult to carry receivers vertically, too patient getting to his top speed, gets grabby when threatened vertically, gives a significant cushion in off-man coverage, gets happy feet, needs to play more under control, shows his inexperience and has moments of panic, still developing his instincts, moved by eye manipulation, closes out to receivers in zone with his back to the quarterback, doesn’t consistently get his head around and locate the football, displaced by blocking receivers, can’t stack and shed blocks against the run
Overview: Phillips has special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units. He was a special teams ace in 2022, amassing more than ten total tackles. Kentucky primarily aligned Phillips in the slot in 2022, but he also received a healthy dose of reps as an outside corner to the field side of the defense. The redshirt junior enters 2023 with only one season of more than 100 defensive snaps under his belt. His inexperience shows in his lack of anticipation and inconsistent technique. Phillips panics at times and plays out of control. More time spent on the field will iron out these issues and allow the Kentucky corner to maximize his athletic prowess. Phillips is an explosive, springy athlete with fast feet and fluid hips. He has enough speed to carry deep threats vertically and decent recovery speed. Phillips’ impressive vertical leaps make up for his size and questionable arm length. The South Carolina product plays the receiver’s hands when he doesn’t get his head around. He is quick to click and close on short routes and screens. Phillips is a willing downhill defender who quickly rallies to the football, but his play strength is often outmatched by blocking receivers and tight ends. He can’t stack and shed blocks. His punches and attempts to be aggressive with the receiver early in the route often miss the mark. Phillips allows receivers to blow past him in off-man coverage because he lacks anticipation and is too patient in getting to his top speed. The former All-State triple jumper gets happy feet and grabby when he feels threatened vertically. He falls for eye manipulation. Phillips closes out to receivers in zone coverage with his back to the quarterback and doesn’t consistently get his head around to locate the football.
Overall, Phillips appears to have the agility and speed to be an impact defender, but his instincts and technique show his inexperience. His transition from slot defender to outside corner in 2023 will test his development. Phillips could be a late riser in the process because of athletic testing.
Role & Scheme Fit: Slot or field corner in a zone dominant scheme
Round Projection: Fifth Round
Size: 6'0", 187 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 06-04-23