Derrick Phillips
Grand Valley State University
Defensive Back #5
5'11 1/2" 4.42
225 Reps - 23x
Vertical: 34"

A sleeper for this years draft is defensive back Derrick Phillips of Division II Grand Valley State University. He has great size, quickness, strength, and he is a very tackler. Phillips was a JUCO Transfer from Joliet who stepped right in and started for the Lakers' national championship team in 2003. Earned 1st team All-Gliac honors and was an honorable mention All-American at d2football.com.

Phillips has ideal size to play free safety or cornerback in the NFL. He is a good athlete, but could be a little more fluid in his turns. Phillips has good hands and catches the ball when it's there; in 2003 he played one play on offense and scored a touchdown. In coverage, there are a couple of technical things he'll probably need to change to transition to the NFL. He sometimes turns inside and shuffles with receivers rather than drop into a traditional backpedal. It has worked for him well, but he knows that the NFL will want him to change that, so he has been working on that with his trainers.

Phillips is a good prospect on a good team. In college Phillips didn't have to cover many top flight wide receivers, but he shuts down the better ones he's had to face. Phillips has a great deal of talent and is a very solid all around corner that has the ability to play safety at the next level. Some NFL team are looking at Phillips to play safety as well as corner in nickel and dime packages in the NFL In 2003 Phillips set a GVSU single-season record with 13 pass deflections, also had 72 tackles, picked off four passes, recovered two fumbles and forced two fumbles. In 2004 he played both corner and safety but didn't see as much action from other teams offense. He had 32 Tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 3 Interceptions, and 4 pass break-ups. Phillips also returned 11 kicks for 183 yards.

Phillips is training at Acceleration in Grand Rapids, Michigan where last years 1st round draft pick of the Houston Texans Jason Babin trained and the trainer say that he has had great improvement from we has had started the program and they think that he will be in the 4.3's when he runs his 40 at the Pro Day.