Clark Phillips III Named FWAA All-America First-Team

SALT LAKE CITY – Cornerback Clark Phillips III, Utah’s All-Pac-12 standout team captain, has earned first-team honors on the FWAA All-America Team for his fifth All-America honor this season.

The Lakewood, Calif., native is the 22^nd selection for the Utes to the FWAA first-team and the first Utah defensive back to earn a spot on the first or second FWAA All-America teams in program history.

Phillips has started in every game he has appeared in since coming to Salt Lake City (31). He has 10 career interceptions and four pick-sixes, sitting as the only active player in the Pac-12 with four career interceptions returned for touchdowns.

He has 12 starts this season with 24 tackles (2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) with six interceptions (142 return yards) and six pass breakups. The two-time All-Pac-12 selection is tied for the most interceptions this season among Power Five players (6), also tying for second overall in the country.

His 142 return yards also ranks fourth nationally with his two pick-sixes being the second-most by an FBS player this year. Eleven of his 12 passes defended came in Pac-12 regular season play, also tying for the conference lead.

In Utah’s Homecoming victory over Oregon State this year, Phillips racked up a career-high three picks (one pick-six) against the Beavers, which ties as the most by a Power Five player in 2022. He earned national weekly awards from Chuck Bednarik, Jim Thorpe, PFF and Walter Camp for his performance against Oregon State, also being named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week.

He had a season-high four stops in Utah’s regular season win over USC, also recording his first career sack and two pass breakups. The Lakewood, Calif., native also had an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown at UCLA and an interception and two pass breakups at Oregon.

Clark Phillips III • 2022 Awards & Accolades

• 2022 All-America (Walter Camp, 1^st Team; FWAA, 1^st Team; CBS Sports/247 Sports, 1st Team; The Athletic, 1st Team; PFF, honorable mention)
• AP Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, AP All-Pac-12 First-Team (Dec. 8)
• Pac-12…