Four-Star Defensive Tackle Recruit Commits to OU

Originally Published: Jun 21, 2010 8:21 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma – The OU football team added another name to an already impressive 2011 recruitment list Monday when Jordan Phillips announced his verbal commitment to the Sooners.

Phillips stands at 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds and is ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 12 defensive tackle in the nation. The Towanda, Kansas product received offers from seven other schools, including Auburn, Kansas and Oklahoma State.

Phillips is a three-sport athlete who also plays basketball and baseball, and has a rare combination of size and speed. He has been clocked as fast as 4.7 in the 40-yard dash and should pose considerable problems for opposing offensive linemen.

The Sooners have made a concerted effort in recent years to maintain a strong presence in the interior of their defensive line. Gerald McCoy was the No. 3 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, and Jamarkus McFarland is one of OU’s most highly-touted defensive recruits in recent memory. Both McCoy and McFarland are known for their superior quickness, much like Phillips.

Rivals.com rates Phillips as a four-star prospect, already the ninth four-star recruit to commit to the Sooners’ 2011 class.

The biggest question mark surrounding Phillips is his stamina. His production frequently waned at the end of games in high school, but conditioning and a consistent rotation of other players in the lineup could help solve that problem.