Adrian Phillips – #17
Postion: Safety
Height: 5-11 Weight: 201
Experience: Sr.-3L
Hometown: Garland, Texas Last School: Garland
By Steve Habel
PHILLIPS, ANOTHER player primed for a resurgent season in 2013, has played in 37 games with 15 starts at cornerback and safety during his career. Last season, Phillips played in all 13 games, starting in 10 of those contests. [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] He ranked third on the team in tackles (72) and tied for third in interceptions (two).
Despite his stats, Phillips had a down season in 2012, mainly because of a shoulder injury that lingered from the spring. He appears healthy now, showing a more aggressive side in spring drills and during the offseason.
“Adrian is playing at a different level — what we’re seeing with him is the senior-year urgency,” defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. “You see it in his play, the way he works, in the weight room … everything he has done since we got back in January has been at full speed and at a high level.”
Phillips started to show signs of a turnaround during last year’s Iowa State game. He was rock solid on seven of his nine open-field tackling opportunities, a significant improvement over the way that he began the campaign.
Having spent some time at nickel and safety in the spring, Phillips has a chance to play as many as three positions for the Longhorns in 2013. How he performs will be one of Texas’ keys this season — but expect a breakout campaign.
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