UCLA receiver Kyle Philips has decided to forgo his remaining eligibility and has declared for the 2022 NFL Draft.
A member of Coach Chip Kelly’s first recruiting class at UCLA in 2018, Philips proved to be a valuable part of the Bruins’ offense.
“He’s done an unbelievable job,” Kelly said. “He came in and played right away as a true freshman and made a huge impact on our program since he got there.”
The redshirt junior finished his UCLA career with 1,821 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on 163 catches in 34 games.
He had 35 catches over the last five games of the 2021 season and had at least one catch in each of the past 29 games he played in.
He also became the first player to lead the Bruins in receptions for three consecutive seasons since Craig Bragg in 2001-04.
Philips, who ranks fourth on UCLA’s career receptions list, was among the top three in several statistical categories within the conference this past season.
In 2021, he led the conference with 10 touchdown catches, was second in receiving yards per game (67.2) and third in receptions per game (5.4)
Philips, who also returned punts, was named a first-team All-Pac-12 receiver by the conference coaches and a second-team All-Pac-12 special teams returner.
Philips was one of two Bruins to be voted as the Pac-12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week (along with kicker Nicholas Barr-Mira) this past season, and one of two Pac-12 players (along with Utah kick returner Britain Covey) to receive the award twice in 2021.
As a punt returner, his 82-yard return against USC this season was the third-longest in school history and the second punt return touchdown of his college career.
He had a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown in UCLA’s 67-63 victory at Washington State in 2019.
The former four-star recruit from San Marcos High in San Marcos would have played his final game as a Bruin in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, but the game against North Carolina State was canceled due to COVID-19 protocol issues in the UCLA program.
“It might not have ended how we would have liked but I am walking away grateful and with a full heart,” Philips said in a statement on Instagram. “I look forward to this next season in my life and the opportunity to represent UCLA and San Diego in all of my future endeavors.”
Source link
