Tag: Andru Phillips

Cornerback Andru Phillips was named the best pick of round three by PFF

Former Kentucky football player Andru Phillips graded as the best round three pick by Pro Football Focus.

The first player selected in the 2024 NFL draft from Kentucky football was cornerback Andru Phillips. He was taken in the third round with the 70th overall pick by the New York Giants.

Phillips rose up draft boards through the off-season as he shined at every practice and workout he went through. He stood out at the Senior Bowl and in his Combine and Pro Day workouts.

Last year, for the Wildcats, Phillips recorded 47 tackles and five passes defended. While he didn’t have any interceptions, he proved he was willing, and able, to play man coverage and be physical at the line of scrimmage.

Pro Football Focus loved the pick by the Giants, rating it as the best pick of the third round. They had this to say about drafting Phillips:

The Giants drafted Deonte Banks in the first round of last year’s draft and now add more youth to that group early in the third round this year. His career-best 23 defensive stops led all SEC cornerbacks in 2023, and his 72.9 PFF coverage grade was also the best mark of his career.

It’s impossible to predict how players will perform once they’re in the NFL, but it certainly appears that Phillips landed in a good spot. Big Blue Nation will be rooting for his success going forward.

Andru Phillips bringing aggressiveness to Giants’: I want to get my nose dirty’

Cornerback Andru Phillips plans to bring an aggressive, physical mindset to the New York Giants: “I want to get my nose dirty.”

The New York Giants were in dire need of cornerback help entering the 2024 NFL draft and used their third-round selection on Kentucky’s Andru ‘Dru’ Phillips, who may not be the outside corner fans were hoping the team would bring in.

Phillips seems to fit more into the slot and in packages, but according to general manager Joe Schoen, he’s versatile.

“He can play both. He’s got the versatility to play inside, and outside. But we have options because (Cor’Dale) Flott can play inside, and outside as well. If he goes inside, Flott can go outside or vice-versa. The versatility is also attractive for all these guys with the new defense,” Schoen told reporters on Saturday.

Schoen was reminded that Phillips is also not known for creating turnovers, a fact he could not deny.

“Some of these guys that are 5-11, 200, run 4.4 would be playing receivers if they had really good ball skills unfortunately,” said Schoen. “But no, I mean, he’s sticky. He’s in terms of coverage, he’s around the football a lot. And watching him down in the senior Bowl on one-on-ones, he has a lot of traits and those are things we are going to work on. He’s in position, but he just has to finish a little bit better.

“But I really like the athlete, like the kid, look forward to him getting here. Told Wan’Dale (Robinson), he’s got to be ready for practice because Dru said he was going to be locking him up. That will be good competition there.

None of that talk will deter Phillips from coming into East Rutherford and proving that Schoen was right about him.

“I’m a competitive player. I want to win down there at that defensive position, whether that’s corner or slot, and I bring a fiery and versatility to the game and a different type of aggression I feel like every defense needs, but also at the same time, I bring that will to win. I want to come in here and help any way I can,” he said.

What exactly was it that the Giants liked about him after his stellar showing at the Senior Bowl?

“They like, one, is my willingness to tackle,” said Phillips. “I know it’s a thing, especially at those corners and now people want to tackle but I’m one of those guys, I want to get my nose dirty. Just my football IQ and just being savvy in it as well. You can be aggressive but then have some finesse to you, as well, and just go out there and win every rep.”

And the Giants do need to tackle better, that is for sure. Last season, teams got too many second chances due to missed tackles.

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Giants GM Joe Schoen ‘excited’ about young core on defense

After Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft, New York Giants GM Joe Schoen expressed excitement over the team’s young core on defense.

The New York Giants selected Kentucky defensive back Andru Phillips with the 70th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft on Friday night in Detroit.

The Giants were getting thin at the corner position after choosing not to re-sign Adoree’ Jackson (so far) and needed to bring in some new faces to position coach Jerome Henderson’s group.

Phillips came in for a top-30 visit with the Giants and apparently made enough of an impression on general manager Joe Schoen to take him on Day 2 of the draft.

“He’s sticky. In terms of coverage, he’s around the football a lot. And watching him down in the senior Bowl on one-on-ones, he has a lot of traits and those are things we are going to work on. He’s in position, but he just has to finish a little bit better. But I really like the athlete, like the kid, look forward to him getting here,” Schoen told reporters.

“He’s got the versatility to play inside, and outside. But we have options because (Cor’Dale) Flott can play inside, and outside as well. If he goes inside, Flott can go outside or vice-versa. The versatility is also attractive for all these guys with the new defense.”

Combined with the addition of Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin, Phillips will join an exciting young defensive core Schoen has been building over the past three drafts.

“I’m excited about the young core that we have together and the guys that are under contract for multiple years and even guys that may only have a year left that potentially we can extend down the road. But I do think we have pieces in place that I like that are going to be together for a couple of years here,” Schoen said.

Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is undoubtedly excited as well.

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Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips is drafted by the New York Giants

Cornerback Andru Phillips has been drafted by the New York Giants.

Cornerback Andru Phillips had a lot of buzz surrounding him as the off-season progressed. A great week at the Senior Bowl and a solid performace at the NFL Combine moved him up draft boards. On Friday night, he was drafted by the New York Giants with the 70th overall pick.

Phillips is 5’10” and 190 pounds, and started all 12 games in 2023. He recorded 47 tackles and five passes defended last season.

It was his performance after the season that stood out, though. He was one of the top competitors during Senior Bowl week, then showed out at the Combine in Indianapolis with a 42″ vertical leap and a 11’3″ broad jump.

Phillips can play both inside and out, but likely projects best as a nickel cornerback in the NFL. He’ll likely struggle with size, but he plays tough, and he closes quickly when tackling.

The former Wildcat is the first Kentucky football player off the board in this year’s NFL draft. Big Blue Nation will watch to see who’s next.

2024 NFL draft: Giants select CB Andru Phillips in Round 3

With the No. 70 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the New York Giants select Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips.

With the 70th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft, the New York Giants have selected Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips.

After a run on cornerbacks in Round 2, the Giants sat back and patiently waited for the board to come to them. They were rewarded with Phillips, whom the team scouted extensively during the pre-draft process, including a top-30 visit.

Although the 22-year-old Phillips lacks experience and has some flaws in his game, he’s moldable and his natural athletic instincts will benefit him long-term.

Unlike safety Tyler Nubin, who is likely to start on Day 1, Phillips is more of a developmental talent who will need some coaching to reach his ceiling. However, he does provide the added benefit of being a willing tackler and a versatile player, capable of playing outside or in the slot. That will earn him snaps in 2024.

“He’s competitive as heck and very versatile,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said after the team’s pro day. “It’s very difficult to play inside, at that slot position, and cover the type of wideouts you’re asked to cover, with a lot of technique and nuance. It takes a bright guy with instinct.

“Dru has that. He can also hold up outside at corner at the next level. That’s why his stock’s up.”

In 29 career games (25 over the past two seasons), the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Phillips has recorded 82 tackles (three for a loss) and 10 passes defensed.

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Former Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips is rising up NFL Draft boards

Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips could get drafted early in NFL Draft

Former Kentucky Wildcats cornerback Andru Phillips is on fire and his draft stock is rising. At this point, he’s looking to be a Top 75 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Pro Football Focus has Phillips ranked at number 64 overall in their pre-draft big board. A lot of draft board have Phillips as a consensus top 100 lock for next week’s NFL Draft.

A 6-foot-1, 180-pound corner, Phillips ended the 2023 season with zero interceptions but had 47 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, and five passes defended in 12 games.

Phillips wowed NFL teams since the season ended. He was excellent at Senior Bowl practices, then impressed at the NFL Combine. Recent mock drafts have had him going on day two a majority of the time, but as Garafolo points out, some teams have a first round grade on him.

The NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 25th in Detroit (MI).

 

 

2024 NFL draft: Giants to meet with DB Andru Phillips, TE Theo Johnson

The New York Giants will reportedly meet with Kentucky DB Andru Phillips and Penn State TE Theo Johnson ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

The 2024 NFL draft is just around the corner and the New York Giants will wrap up their top 30 visits over the next two weeks.

Their most publicized meetings have come with the draft’s top quarterbacks and wide receivers, but they haven’t been that limited in scope. General manager Joe Schoen has also sat down with several edge rushers and at least one defensive tackle.

In the coming days, the Giants will also reportedly meet with a few cornerbacks and a tight end.

Josh Edwards of CBS Sports reports that the Giants have an April meeting scheduled with Kentucky defensive back Andru Phillips.

The 23-year-old Phillips earned a relative athletic score (RAS) of 8.13 and is projected to go in the mid-rounds. NFL Network draft analyst Lance Zierlein views him as a developmental talent.

Phillips’ tape features a high number of both completions and drops that should have been completions, but that could change in a different scheme and with additional experience. He’s still green, with just two years of real game experience, and often played too loose in Kentucky’s zone cover schemes. Phillips lacks the anticipation to contest catches at a high enough rate from zone but does have the athleticism to play more man coverage, with the tools to stay sticky on routes. He’s an ardent run supporter with excellent toughness but needs to finish tackles at a higher rate. Scheme fit might be critical, along with proving he can play from the slot, but his best football could be ahead of him.

In addition to Phillips, the Giants are also slated to meet with (or have already met with) Penn State tight end Theo Johnson, reports Sports Illustrated.

Johnson plans to work out in State College for a few weeks before the NFL Draft and make some targeted team visits. He said he’ll meet with the Seattle Seahawks, and the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens plan to schedule visits as well.

The 23-year-old Johnson earned a wildly impressive RAS score of 9.99 and is also projected to be taken in the mid-rounds. However, Zierlein is concerned with his several flaws.

Highly recruited out of high school, Johnson looks the part with an above-average frame and traits. While teams might want to place him in an elevated silo for consideration, they might not find the consistency or high number of flashes on tape that they were expecting. Johnson’s run blocking is below average for his size, and adopting a glass-eating mentality in conjunction with technique work could help him improve in that area. He’ll make contested catches and is adequate against man coverage, but he lacks dynamic qualities as a pass catcher. Traits will work in his favor, but there is work to be done to become anything more than an average backup.

The Giants have needs at both cornerback and tight end (assuming Darren Waller retires), so expect to see other prospect visits over the next two weeks.

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Andru Phillips Has Great Combine Performance

Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips had a solid day at the NFL Combine on Friday.

While the Kentucky Wildcats aren’t known for their football program, they have recently put some pretty good players into the NFL. Over the years, Kentucky has had some talented football players drafted, from Will Levis to Josh Allen to Josh Pascal to Randall Cobb. This year is no different and with the combine taking place right now, what better time to look at them?

While not one of the bigger-named defensive backs in the draft, former Wildcat Andru Phillips should not be overlooked. Looking like a mid-late round pick, Phillips helped boost his stock with a strong combine on Friday.

Phillips had a strong season for Kentucky in 2023, finishing the season with 47 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and five passes defended for the Wildcats. Phillips flashed NFL athleticism and talent this past season and that athleticism was on display today.

Phillips had a really good day, measuring in at five foot ten and a half inches tall and weighing 190 pounds. He ran a good 40 time with a 4.48 40, a 2.61 20-yard split, and a 1.57 10-yard split. Where he really shinned were his jumps. Phillips finished third among all corner backs with a 42-inch vertical leap and second in the broad jump with an 11-foot three-inch broad.

We will have to wait to see if his combine helped push him up draft boards, but Phillips looked to have a very good Friday workout.

2024 Scouting Combine: Seven cornerbacks detail their favorite college plays

At the 2024 scouting combine, we asked seven different cornerbacks for their favorite NCAA plays, and got some great answers.

INDIANAPOLIS — Unless you are somehow able to gain access to one of the rooms in which NFL teams meet with draft prospects during the week of the scouting combine, there’s no way to know what’s really discussed. One thing that is almost always happens is a tape-watching expedition in which the NFL people will have play examples dialed up that hopefully show what the prospects can do.

Here at Touchdown Wire, we do not possess the required juice to crash those rooms, but we are able to ask these prospects during their combine media sessions which plays from their college careers best typify their potential.

On Thursday, we asked seven different cornerback prospects — Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, Kentucky’s Andru Phillips, Wake Forest’s Caelen Carson, Pitt’s M.J. Devonshire, Oregon’s Khyree Jackson, and Ole Miss’s Deantre Prince — for their favorite collegiate plays. These are the ones they’d like to show to NFL teams this week as indicators of their finest work.