From Charlie Prio on Twitter: Jordan Phillips, IDL, Maryland, 6’1 318 Pros: Extremely strong & violent at point, able to penetrate or stack any OL in front of him Makes sure to lock arms out when stacking, uses all his length Can absolutely kill combos when taking knee, true weapon in bag Kills lungers w/swim, able to win big in backfield Occasionally flashes slanting, able to rip through and win at either A-gap Almost always wins leverage battle, makes sure to stay low at point of attack Pass Rush bag, spin, club, bull Overpowering power in 2-hand bull when able to get hands on & ramp up Loves the spin and wins often with his, can hit from any angle with initial chop or not Spin arm is able to send OL flying when spinning, extremely strong Changes pace with spin? Really intricate spin move that is perfect rush counter Cons: Will get overwhelmed when engaged for long, has to win at the point or split double, not greatest true anchor Will get blown off ball once he loses at point, too light Doesn’t really peak/2-gap once stacked? Kind of tries to feel OL flow or is late to 2-gap Unable to consistently win over top of reaches, mixture of stance/getoff & lack of athleticism when moving side to side Poor getoff in squatty stance, downfall of role/stance Not a true pass Rush threat, unable to shed once engaged or collapsed, splash wins only Notes: 4 point/squatty stance, automatically bad getoff Drops knee to anchor Grade (Day 1/Potential): 63.96 Scouting Summary: Jordan Phillips is a 3rd year prospect for Tennessee and Maryland who compiled over 1,000 snaps in his career. He is the definition of a NT/Shade player, as that was his exact role in college. In that role, he embraced the dirty work mentality, and even had a couple splash plays trickled in. As a run defender, Jordan is simply a pain to block, especially when lined up directly over the C. He was in the typical squatty/4-point stance which did hurt his getoff, but let him dominate at the point. He makes sure to stay very low at the point and is able to either penetrate or stack any OL in front of him. He is very strong & violent at the point, and makes sure to lock out his arms to use all of his length. After stacking, he tries to peak and 2-gap at times, but is usually late to react or unable to ID the ball. When transitioning to his shed, he struggles to consistently shrug off the OL due to either a lack of length or violence. This lets OL engage and drive for a long period of time, which is Jordan’s kryptonite. For a NT, he is very light, at only 310lbs, which lets OL absolutely blow him off the ball if he doesn’t win at the point. This also goes for combos, where he loses poorly if he’s unable to get to the OL and win quickly. The times Jordan truly dominates while anchoring is when taking a knee. There are many combos that went absolutely nowhere when Jordan drops a knee and is able to win at the point. His squatty stance and dirty work role forced teams to run outside zone in an attempt to get around him. While compared to most players in his role he is athletic, he still struggles fighting over the top and winning. As a pass rusher, there is no expectation for a player in his role. It is also shown when people look at his production and see 26 pressures and 0 sacks in his college career. But that’s not the point of his role, or does it tell even half of the story. As a rusher, he is someone who can win in a multitude of ways. Jordan basses out of his bull like most DTs do, which is on and off. When given a runway, he’s able to ramp up speed, get his hands to the OL’s chest and overwhelm them right away. His initial power in his bull is able to collapse pockets right away, but after his initial surge, he is unable to collapse the pocket. If the OL is able to fend off the initial power or if he’s not given a runway, his bull is not great. Due to a lack of length and true “farmer strength” he gets engulfed with his bull. After his bull, he knows how to transition to club, rips or chops, but is usually unable to shed and win late. What Jordan is known for as a rusher is his splash spins that are strangely very intricate for a man his size. In his spin, he loves changing paces and exploding into his spin after coming in slow. This forces OL to come in too aggressive in an attempt of winning big, before getting fooled by the spin. When going into the spin, he makes sure to chop with his front arm and uses his back arm as a club to send OL flying. This makes it almost impossible to stop his spin once engaged and leads to many splash wins. Overall, Jordan Phillips is a true dirty work NT who dominates at the point and has splash wins, but his lack of physical traits cause him to be a very role dependent player and a non-3 down option.
MARYLAND DEFENSIVE TACKLE JORDAN PHILLIPS He didn’t have a sack, and just three tackles for loss, in 28 games for Tennessee and Maryland. He played three games as a freshman at Tennessee and then transferred to Maryland, where he had 28 and 29 tackles the past two seasons. The 6-2, 312-pounder started 12 games last season. He played nose tackle at Maryland but can play other spots on the defensive line. That’s also the same with first-round pick Kenneth Grant, who projects best as a nose tackle but also can play other spots on the line. TOP VIDEOS The video player is currently playing an ad. The reaction on Phillips: ▪ ESPN’s Field Yates: “He played 26 snaps as a true freshman at Tennessee, transferred for his final two years at Maryland. Rare to hear a defensive lineman being drafted without a career college sack. He’s got two sledgehammer hands. He played mostly as a nose tackle for Maryland. It’s about the quickness, the shock and violence and his hands. He had 11 tackles as a nose tackle against Iowa; you don’t see that very often.” ▪ ESPN’s Matt Miller: “Former wrestler. I was shocked by the first step quickness. It did make me think, I would love to play him as a three point technique instead of the nose tackle position he played so much at Maryland. Kenneth Grant will play over the center. I would like to see Jordan Phillips in B gaps to attack the quarterback. Very good short area and quickness, even if we didn’t see it result in sacks.” Such a move would allow him to play alongside Grant and Zach Sieler. ▪ NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein calls Phillips a “powerful nose tackle known for his work ethic and leadership. Phillips is compact and explosive at the point but is inconsistent at controlling blocks quickly enough as a read-and-react defender. He can be quick off the snap but lacks fluidity and tends to get sealed by move blocks. In general, he’s gap-sound and can be hard for blockers to finish. He has yet to display he can provide pass-rush production, so he will need to prove he can at least be a run plugger in the pros.” ▪ NFL Net’s Daniel Jeremiah: “He reminds me a little bit of of [115-game NFL starter] Jevon Hargrave. In terms of big strong lower body. Has a wide four-point stance. Violent hands, violent swing move. Pure bull rush. Not a lot of polish to his game. Not a lot of power to his game.” ▪ NFL Net’s Charles Davis: “You see power and quick jump around to get into the backfield.”
Jordan Phillips a standout wrestler and weightlifter at Ocoee High School in Florida, initially landed at Tennessee, where he appeared in three games during their 11-2 Orange Bowl campaign. The former three-star recruit then made the pivotal decision to transfer to Maryland, a program that had heavily pursued him out of high school, where he would immediately claim the starting nose tackle position. Phillips wasted no time making his presence felt in College Park, starting 11 games in 2023 while recording 28 tackles and 1.5 TFLs. His sophomore campaign saw continued growth as he started all 12 games, amassing 29 tackles and showing increased comfort in Maryland's defensive scheme. The defining moment came against Iowa, where Phillips put together a career-best performance with eight tackles, including a tackle for loss, showcasing the disruptive potential that had coaches buzzing. What makes Phillips' trajectory particularly intriguing is his combination of youth and raw physical tools. At just 20 years old, he's already drawing comparisons to NFL star Daron Payne from his head coach Mike Locksley. His athletic achievements in the weight room border on mythical - squatting 665 pounds and putting up a 365-pound overhead press for two reps, numbers that caught Bruce Feldman's eye for his "Freaks List" and hint at the untapped potential still waiting to be unleashed. Scouting Report: Strengths Named to Bruce Feldman's Freaks List with jaw-dropping weight room numbers - 665-pound squat and 365-pound power clean showcase rare explosive power for the position Demonstrates exceptional wrestling-based leverage technique - consistently works under offensive linemen's pads while maintaining balance through contact. Shows surprising nimbleness in lateral movement - can mirror zone blocking schemes and maintain gap integrity with quick horizontal steps Displays advanced anchor ability against double teams - drops his knee and uses tremendous lower body strength to hold point of attack Generates immediate vertical push with explosive first step - can reset the line of scrimmage when timing snap count correctly Uses heavy hands effectively in the run game - delivers jarring initial punch that creates instant separation from blockers Possesses rare mobility for a 320-pounder - shows ability to cross face on slants and maintain pursuit on outside runs Age 20 with only two years of significant playing time - runway for development Scouting Report: Weaknesses Displays concerning delay in processing blocking schemes - often a beat late identifying combination blocks leading to poor positioning Lacks variety in pass rush moves - relies too heavily on bull rush without developing effective counters when initial push stalls Struggles with pad level consistency when working to disengage - will rise up and surrender leverage advantage mid-rep Shows limited production in passing situations - zero sacks over two seasons raises questions about third-down value Modest arm length impacts ability to stack and shed - can get stuck on blocks even after winning initial leverage battle Scouting Report: Summary After hours of film study, one thing becomes crystal clear - Phillips has the raw tools to be a game-wrecking nose tackle in the NFL. The wrestling background shows up constantly in how he uses leverage and hand placement to control blocks. He's built like a fire hydrant with explosive power, exactly what you want in an odd-front nose. The tape against Iowa this year really opened my eyes - he absolutely dominated the interior gaps against a traditionally strong offensive line. The defensive scheme fit here is crucial. In Baltimore or Cleveland's aggressive 3-4 front, Phillips could be unleashed as a penetrating nose who commands double teams and creates havoc. His explosive first step would be weaponized on stunts and twists, while his natural power at the point of attack would eat up blockers. The processing delays I see on tape need serious work - he's often a beat late reading combination blocks which leads to him getting washed. But you can't teach his brand of explosive power and natural leverage. Phillips presents strong third-round value given his physical traits and youth. At just 20 years old, with a 665-pound squat and rare movement skills for a 320-pounder, his ceiling is considerable. The pass rush isn't there yet, but the flashes of dominance when he times the snap right remind me of a young Brandon Williams. In three years, after refining his technique and learning to process faster, Phillips could be one of the most physically imposing nose tackles in football. The upside is through the roof if a coaching staff can unlock his full potential. https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Jordan-Phillips-DL-Tennessee
