Dylon Harrison
Staff Writer
With the 2018 NFL Draft fast approaching, many college football players across the country will be waiting to find out where they will be playing football next season. One of these players will be ISU’s Skyler Phillips.
Phillips was picked up by Reign Sports Management about one week after the 2017 season concluded. He said the decision of which agency to join was difficult, but Reign made the best impression.
Phillips attended the NFL Scouting Combine to show scouts what he was capable of. He was unable to bench press because of a pec injury, but he completed the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds, the three-cone drill in 7.95 seconds and the 20-yard shuttle in 4.69 seconds. He also registered a 29.0 inch in the vertical jump and 104.0 inches in the broad jump. The NFL’s official website compared him to Shaq Mason, a 6-foot-1, 311-pound offensive lineman for the New England Patriots.
These scores earned him a prospect grade of 5.36. According to the official NFL website, Phillips is projected to be drafted in the fifth or sixth round.
“I do have to carry myself differently now,” Phillips said. “I’m a professional now and that’s how I try to carry myself.”
In addition to the combine, Phillips has also played in the Senior Bowl and trained in Orlando. He said the process was overwhelming early on, but now he’s used to it. He also said aside from training, ISU’s pro day, and the combine, he has had a lot of free time.
He doesn’t plan to attend the draft and will not be watching it. He said sitting around waiting to hear his name would be too stressful. If he does watch, it will be from his home in Eugene.
Phillips is an ISU graduate, who graduated last semester with a degree in sociology. His degree could have been finished last school year, but he took another full-semester credit load to stay eligible for football.
He is originally from Eugene and came to ISU as a freshman in 2013. During his career at ISU, Phillips played multiple positions along ISU’s offensive line. He was unable to play for most of the 2016 season due to an injury.
His decision to come to ISU came after an offer from Oregon State was withdrawn.
“I feel like I’ve made the most of it here and obviously I’ve played well enough to get some accolades,” Phillips said.
Phillips said he doesn’t care what team he is chosen as he gets to be on a team. The NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, April 26 and will end on Saturday, April 28.
