The transfer portal headlines can make it feel like every college athlete is exclusively chasing the highest dollar amount, but that’s not always the case. Former Maryland defensive tackle and NFL Draft prospect Jordan Phillips spoke about that during an appearance on Glenn Clark Radio.
“This era is tough because, with the era of NIL, my generation cares a lot about the money. And it’s not all about that. You’ve gotta go to the right situation. ‘Is this a place I can grow as a man off the football field and grow as a great football player? Is this a place I can see myself building relationships with coaches and with players?’ Because at the end of the day, those things do matter. It’s not always about the money,” said Phillips, one of six Maryland football players who could be picked in the NFL Draft.
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“If you play this game the right way, and if you live right on and off the field, the football gods—they’re going to bless you. You’re going to get what’s coming to you in the future. In the new era where everybody wants everything right now, it’s difficult for people to truly see that.”
Phillips, a mountainous 6-foot-3, 320-pound tackle, is projected to be a mid-round pick after two years at Maryland following his transfer from Tennessee. He gave credit to the Maryland staff for developing him.
“Coach Locks is one of the greatest coaches that ever recruited me and ever believed in me. Coach Locksley has always just been supportive of me and just supported my development. Same thing with Brian Williams, my defensive coordinator and D-line coach in college. They’ve always done an amazing job of just supporting me and developing me as a man and as a football player,” he said.
Maryland came in second when recruiting him as a high school prospect in Orlando, but when he decided to leave Tennessee, he circled back to the Terps.
“That came all the way back when I was getting recruited in high school. Honestly, just me being mentored by them and being recruited by them coming out of high school—it just meant a lot to me. Then when I came out of the portal, everybody had elevated in their respective position. At the time, Coach Locks had just gotten a raise. My defensive coordinator, Brian Williams, coming out of high school, was just my D-line coach. But coming out of the portal, he was the defensive coordinator. James Thomas, my area recruiter coming out of high school, was only the special teams coordinator. But when I came out the portal, he was both special teams coordinator and the outside linebackers coach,” he said.
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“That made me realize that everybody was developing at the University of Maryland. Everybody was elevating. They were about to go to the second bowl game in two years. That’s big time.”
“I figured Maryland was a place I could get better and develop and also help others around me develop and just add value to the organization. That’s the reason I came to Maryland out of the portal.”
Phillips is proud of his Maryland career.
“I take a lot of pride in this place. It means a lot to me, and I love the guys in this building,” he said.”
“At the end of the day, we’re continuing to work. We’re continuing to develop as players on the field, but also men off the field. I just have a whole lot of faith in Maryland. I can honestly say going here the last two years has been one of the best decisions in my life. So I’m just excited to see what they do in the fall.”
More on Maryland and Locksley: “Like I said, this is an amazing organization. Coach Locks is a great recruiter, and the organization is always continuing to develop at a high rate. I believe in Coach Locks, and the guys around here, and everybody around here at the University of Maryland believes in Coach Locks.
On his tough childhood: “Even coming from hard circumstances growing up—just getting evicted a lot, not always having everything—even coming from that, it was never about the money with me. It was always about, how can I develop? How can I help others around me develop? How can I be around the best people with the best mindsets? I love that. That’s what it always was about for me … Because the way my mom raised me—she raised me to have a mature mindset and to think logically instead of thinking about what’s best for just right now.”
On receiving the Shrine Bowl’s Pat Tillman Award, given to the player who embodies character, intelligence, sportsmanship, and service: “I take a lot of pride in getting that award. Ever since I’ve gotten it, I always make sure I wake up in the morning and live to represent it in the right manner. That truly does mean a lot to me … Even long before I got that award, I did my research on Pat Tillman. I already knew who he was. One thing about me, I do my research, and I study the game of football. I study the people before me—the success stories before me.
“When you talk about having courage, when you talk about a guy who was selfless, who put others before himself—he put the whole country before himself—when you talk about somebody who’s brave, Pat Tillman is all of those things. I’m just very honored to have received that award. It means the world to me.”
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