As we put a bow on another fantastic college football season the last week of the regular season didn’t disappoint us as we saw a handful of top ten teams fall along with some exciting finishes to rivalry games. Now that championship weekend is upon us, we have a clearer picture as to how the teams in contention will make the College Football Playoff.
Everyone loves a good rematch, and it appears USC is one win away from punching their ticket to the College Football Playoff, the only thing standing in their way is a Utah team who defeated them 43-42 earlier in the season.
Utah is looking to ruin USC’s redemption story and repeat as PAC-12 champions, punching their own ticket to a New Year’s Six bowl. If they can, it will likely be a second straight Rose Bowl appearance.
Today we take a look at the four most impactful, draft eligible players in Friday night’s PAC-12 Championship battle between (4) USC Trojans and the (11) Utah Utes, along with why the Cowboys will be keeping a close eye on these prospects leading up to the draft.
Cornerback
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 183
Class: Junior
Phillips has quickly established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the nation and is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award (best defensive back in the nation). Phillips has started every game since he has arrived on campus (30). While weighing in a 5-foot-10, 183 pounds he has a very defined physique. Phillips does an excellent job staying in-phase mid-route and can effectively make plays in either man or zone.
Phillips possesses good ball skills with eight career interceptions. Not only can he take the ball away, but once he does, he has the playmaking ability to turn turnovers into touchdowns. He is the only active player in the PAC-12 with four career Pick-6s. So far this season Phillips has 21 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, five interceptions, and eight passes defended. Phillips has positioned himself to be one of the first corners off the board when the drafts rolls around in April.
With Anthony Brown set to hit free agency, and only one year remaining on Jourdan Lewis’ deal there are some questions that will need to be answered at the position. Brown has struggled giving up explosive plays and his inability to find and locate the ball has been a reoccurring problem throughout his career. Phillips may not be the prototype for the position but what he lacks in…
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