Why Kentucky football DB Andru Phillips is climbing the 2024 NFL draft rankings

A year ago defensive back Andru Phillips was competing for a starting job in Kentucky football’s spring practice.

On Friday, he continued his unlikely rise to the Wildcats’ best prospect in the 2024 NFL draft.

“I was just talking to a good friend of mine that’s also a (defensive backs) guy in the NFL, a friend of mine for a long time that’s here,” UK coach Mark Stoops said at the Wildcats’ annual Pro Day on Friday. “We were just discussing Dru. There’s a lot of things that are good about Dru. No. 1, he’s competitive as heck. He’s got the physical traits that you’re looking for, but he’s very competitive. He’s also very versatile.”

Phillips began to impress late in the 2022 season when he took over responsibilities as the Wildcats’ top nickel back, but he moved to cornerback in 2023, winning one of two open starting jobs at the position.

Phillips was largely overshadowed in 2023 by fellow cornerback Maxwell Hairston, who tied for the SEC lead in interceptions, so it came as a surprise to many when he elected to forgo his final season of eligibility to declare for the NFL draft in December. His 47 tackles, 1 1/2 tackles for loss and five pass breakups hardly foreshadowed an early entry to the draft, but Phillips’ work over the last three months has more than justified that decision.

A strong showing at the Senior Bowl was followed up by impressive measurements at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Phillips was clocked at 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the combine. His 11-foot, 3-inch broad jump ranked second among all cornerbacks in Indianapolis. His 42-inch vertical jump ranked third at the position.

Dane Brugler, an NFL draft analyst for The Athletic, ranked Phillips as the No. 69 prospect in the 2024 draft class, placing him firmly in the range of a possible day two selection in April.

“For me, I feel like I was ready, definitely, to come out,” Phillips said at the combine. “It was time to come here and compete. I knew I’d do a good job, so leaving school was a decision that came between me, my family and my coaches.”

Part of the disconnect between Phillips’ 2023 statistics and rising draft stock could be due to the position he plays in the NFL.

Kentucky often moved Phillips back to nickel back to cover opponents’ slot receiver in obvious passing situations, but the Wildcats needed him to play the majority of snaps at cornerback due to a lack of other ready options at the position. That need was clear on the final drive of the Gator Bowl when Clemson marched down the field against a group of backups forced onto the field by injuries to Phillips and Hairston.

Phillips’ ability to play cornerback if needed adds intrigue to his NFL potential, but it is likely he primarily is asked to defense slot receivers again.

“It’s very hard to play inside, play that nickel/slot position and cover the type of wideouts that you have to cover,” Stoops said. “You also have to do a lot of different techniques. As you’ve heard me talk about through the years, there’s a lot of nuances to that position. So, it takes a bright guy who also has some instincts. Dru has that, and he can also jump outside and hold up at corner at the next level.

“I think that’s why his stock is going up. A lot of coaches like him.”

Apparently satisfied with his performance at the combine, Phillips sat out many of the testing drills at UK’s Pro Day but did participate in position-specific drills.

Whether or not that performance affects his draft stock, Stoops said he is confident Phillips can join the growing group of former Kentucky defensive backs in the NFL that includes Carrington Valentine, Mike Edwards, Lonnie Johnson and Kelvin Joseph.

“I try to tell our guys going through that process to not listen to (the hype),” defensive coordinator Brad White said. “You can say this guy is shooting up the draft board and then all of the sudden on draft day there’s a letdown, it doesn’t come to fruition. You’d rather be pleasantly surprised than let down. So, whoever gets you wherever they get you, be excited. You’re just trying to get your foot in the door.”

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