Following the 2022 season at Tennessee, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips hit the transfer portal looking for a new opportunity and was determined to find the right fit rather than the best payday.
Phillips landed at Maryland, where he developed into one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Ocoee, Fla., native had been recruited by Terps head coach Michael Locksley and former staff members Brian Williams and James Thomas when he was in high school, so he circled back to Maryland after one year at Tennessee.
For Phillips, it was all about relationships and fit.
“With the era of NIL or whatever, my generation cares a lot about the money,” Phillips said on Glenn Clark Radio April 17. “It’s not about that. You’ve got to go to the right situation in terms of, ‘OK, is this a place where I can grow as a man off the football field and grow as a great football player? Is this a place where I can see myself building relationships with coaches and players?’ Because at the end of the day, those things do matter. It’s not always about the money. If you play this game the right way and if you live right on and off the field, the football gods are going to bless you.”
The decision paid off. The 6-foot-2, 312-pound defensive tackle totaled 58 tackles in 28 games for the Terps from 2023-2024 and declared for the draft in December. He then showed what kind of athlete and strongman he is at the NFL Scouting Combine, posting the best mark among defensive tackles in the bench press, fourth-best in the 20-yard shuttle and eighth-best in the 3-cone drill.
Phillips’ performance in Indianapolis was no surprise, given the legendary tales of his feats of strength at Maryland. (He made Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” for The Athletic ahead of the 2024 season.)
“It’s all been a process,” Phillips said. “My mindset is built for more — continuing to just work, continuing to get better every day and just doing the little things that’ll be conducive to long-term success, not only for myself but whoever I’m playing for. I just try to do a good job of representing any organization I’m playing for and the name on the back of my jersey. Those things are important.”
Phillips also took part in the East-West Shrine Bowl in January. He earned the prestigious Pat Tillman Award, which is “presented to a player who best exemplifies character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service,” according to the Shrine Bowl’s website.
Phillips was honored to be recognized in that way.
“I took a lot of pride in getting that award. Ever since I have gotten that award, I’ll always make sure that I wake up in the morning … and I represent the award in the right manner,” Phillips said. “That truly does mean a lot to me. Long before I even 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.”
Maryland went just 4-8 in 2024 despite having several players who could be drafted this month in Phillips, defensive lineman Tommy Akingbesote, safety Dante Trader Jr. and wide receivers Tai Felton and Kaden Prather. However, Phillips believes in Locksley, who had put together three consecutive seasons with a bowl win prior to 2024.
“The organization is always continuing to develop at a high rate. I believe in Coach Locks. The guys around here and everybody around here at the University of Maryland believes in Coach Locks,” Phillips said. “At the end of the day, 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 of my life.”
For more from Phillips, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox