Expected to be one of the senior leaders of the defense ... Spring practice time was limited because of an injury ... When healthy, could be one of the hardest hitters in the Southern Conference ... Tied with Robert Jarvis for top bench press among defensive backs with 315 pounds.
2006: Ranked sixth on the team in tackles with 43 despite playing in only seven games because of injury ... Had 23 solo tackles and 20 assists ... Broke up three passes and had an interception ... Made four stops behind the line of scrimmage ... Started the first five games at strong safety ... Set career high with 12 tackles, including seven solo stops, in win over Georgia Southern ... Registered five or more hits in all but one game ... Produced six tackles and an interception in win at Tennessee Tech ... Had six hits at Memphis ... Compiled seven stops at Western Kentucky ... Totaled five hits at The Citadel ... Credited with six tackles at Wofford ... Missed three games in October and one in November ... Moved from outside linebacker to safety in spring ... Awarded full scholarship in offseason after playing last year as a walk-on.
2005: Ranked third on the team in tackles with 63 in his first year of competition ... Played as a walk-on ... Forty three of his 63 hits were solo stops ... Tied for first on the squad with six tackles for loss and three sacks ... Broke up four passes to rank third on the team ... Forced two fumbles and recovered one ... Returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown in win over Tennessee Tech ... Started five of the first six games at strong outside linebacker ... Moved to weakside for final three outings and started last two ... Set season high with 10 tackles in debut against Tennessee Tech ... Also had a sack and broke up two passes ... Made three solo stops and one behind the line at Memphis ... Credited with six tackles at Georgia Southern ... Caused two fumbles and collected seven hits in victory over Wofford ... Recovered a fumble and totaled eight tackles in win at Liberty ... Led squad with nine tackles and a sack against Western Carolina ... Deflected two passes and registered nine stops in win over The Citadel ... Tallied eight tackles with five solos versus Furman ... Transferred to UTC from Morehead State in January ... Able to participate in spring practice ... Began spring at safety but was moved to strong outside linebacker ... Credited with two quarterback sacks in the spring scrimmage.
MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY: Redshirted in 2004 after suffering preseason injury ... Broke both ankles picking off a pass in a scrimmage one week before opener ... Slated for safety and cornerback ... Eagles went 6-6 overall in 2004 and were 2-1 in the Pioneer Football League South Division ... Tied for the division title with Jacksonville ... Lost the PFL Championship Game to Drake, 20-17 ... Coached at Morehead State by Matt Ballard.
AUSTIN EAST HIGH SCHOOL: Voted school's Athlete of the Year senior year of 2003 ... Led Road Runners to the State Championship as a junior ... Lettered four years and played quarterback, running back, receiver and defensive back every season ... All-State honoree as a junior ... Rated No. 2 in the State of Tennessee and No. 16 in the South ... Two-time All-Region selection ... Elected team's Defensive Back of the Year as a sophomore ... Ranked second in interceptions in 2000 and led the State in return yards and touchdowns ... AEHS Freshman of the Year in 1999 ... Road Runners compiled a 13-2 record during State Championship season ... Went 8-3 senior year and 11-2 junior year ... Coached at Austin East by Stanton Stevens ... Also lettered four times in basketball and four times in track ... Basketball squad advanced to state tournament three times ... Competed in the state track meet in the long jump and the 4x100 relay three times, and the triple jump, 4x400 and 4x200 relay twice.
Jeffery Lynn Phillips Jr. ... Born June 8, 1985, in Knoxville, Tenn. ... Son of Travonda Blair and Jeff Phillips ... Father owns several sprinting records at University of Tennessee ... Step father is Leonard Blair ... Majoring in Sports Administration-Leisure Services.
