Kentucky Wildcats

TRENDING: Scouting Report for the 2024 NFL Draft for Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips

Published

5 months ago

January 27, 2024

mike pedro

Andru Phillips NFL Draft Profile

College: Kentucky
College Position: Cornerback
Ideal NFL Position: Cornerback (slot)
Height/Weight: 6’0″, 187 pounds
Year / Age: Junior / N/A
Draft Projection: Sixth-seventh round
Where I’d Take Him: Fifth round

Background

Andru Phillips was born in Mauldin, South Carolina, and attended Mauldin High School, where he was selected by the South Carolina Football Coaches Association’s 5A First Team All-State. He committed to Kentucky, a school where his father played before him in the 1980s, and was rated as a three-recruit by 247Sports and Rivals.

During his three years at Kentucky, Phillips played in 34 of 39 possible games. He only missed one game due to injury, and this past season, he accumulated 47 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and five pass breakups.

Eleven Wildcats, including Phillips, were included on the Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list. Given his ability to play both boundary and slot corner, many NFL coaches attending the game will probably find him to be a desirable prospect.

In 2021, Phillips and five other Kentucky athletes were charged with first-degree burglary but later found not guilty.

Strengths

Extremely polished zone corner with excellent spacial instincts
Patience to sit in his zone and let short/intermediate routes develop
Willing and aggressive tackler
Quick to disrupt screen game
Slot/boundary corner versatility
Core special teamer for Wildcats

Weaknesses

Recovery speed is lacking, likely due to inconsistent footwork and technique
Tends to rely on face-guarding when defending vertical routes
Can give a little too much cushion in off-coverage

Final Thoughts and Chicago Bears Fit for Andru Phillips

I’ve seen a handful of pundits give Phillips a sixth- or seventh-round grade, which is too low. He does have his shortcomings, but any viable defensive backs coach should be able to iron out his technique and footwork relatively quickly.

Phillips is a desirable Day 3 option due to his versatility and ability to perform well in a variety of zone sets. Though at the next level he’s most suited as a slot cornerback, his positional adaptability is another asset. In Kentucy’s game versus Georgia, Phillips matched up really well against Brock Bowers, and if he stays in the slot, his issues against bigger receivers on the boundary can be better concealed.

The Chicago Bears would find him to be a desirable third-day option. Although the defensive backfield’s starting lineup is decided, there is always room for depth. For Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles, Phillips would be a desirable addition due to his versatility and special teams skills.

In addition, he has to be willing to help halt the run in order for the Bears to take notice of him. Despite not being the most confident tackler, Phillips showed time and time again that he was willing to throw his body around to blocks, obstruct running lanes, and seal the edge so his teammates could rally to the ball carrier.