Andru Phillips (UK Athletics Photo)
Andru Phillips made no attempt to hide his emotions after the New York Giants made him the 70th overall pick in the NFL draft Friday night with their third round pick.
“I can’t stop smiling or crying since I got picked,” Phillips said on a Zoom call with media members after his selection.
Phillips said he had been looking forward to this “since the day I started watching football” as a kid.
“I grew up watching guys in the league and always wanted to be like them in so many different ways,” the UK defensive back said. “I built my own way on how to get there. That showed tonight and is only the beginning. I am just ready to go to work.”
Phillips played in 38 career games with 16 starts for Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White. He had 82 career tackles, 10 pass breakups and three tackles for loss. He had 47 tackles, five pass breakups and 1.5 tackles for loss in 2023.
Phillips was watching the NFL draft on TV when his name got called.
“I started praying to God. I got the call. I can’t say everything I said,” he laughed and said. “They (his parents) knew what it was when I sat down on the couch (after getting the call from the Giants).
“They are proud and understand how hard I worked for this. They are the reason I am here. They are as excited as I was. They started crying. We are a tight knit family. We are together through this thick and thin.”
Teammate Trevin Wallace, another junior, went two picks after Phillips to the Carolina Panthers with the 72nd overall pick. He played in 36 games with 19 starts and had 166 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, five quarterback hurries, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
This was the sixth straight year UK had at least one player taken in the first 80 picks, the first time that has happened since the 1975-80 drafts, and sixth straight year that UK has had at least two players drafted, the first time that has happened since the 1986-91 drafts. within the first 80 picks in 6 consecutive NFL Drafts for the first time since 1975-1980.
On Saturday Kentucky senior running back Ray Davis was chosen in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills with the 128th overall pick. Davis ran 199 times for 1,129 yards (11th on UK’s single-season list) and 14 rushing touchdowns in his only season with the Cats. He also caught 33 passes for 323 yards and seven scores, totaling 21 touchdowns, a single-season school record.
This was the fourth straight year that UK has had at least three players drafted, the first time that has happened since the 1987-90 drafts.
