Byron Phillips III is a running back from De La Salle High School in New Orleans, La. The 2021 recruit stands at 5’9 and weighs in at 209 pounds. Phillips has excellent vision and burst to get to the hole. His agility and strength is a vicious combination for would be tacklers at the second and third levels of defense, as he has the power to run over a linebacker, and the speed to make a safety coming down hill miss. The junior running back tells me he currently has a 515 pound max squat, 285 pound bench press and 280 pound hang clean max. Phillips is currently carrying a 3.0 GPA and an 18 ACT.
When did you start playing football?
I started playing around when I was four. Funny story about when I first started, at first I didn’t like playing football, I used to cry. My mom would make me go to practice every day.
What have you come to love about playing football?
The adrenaline, how you feel like you’re in a different world when you’re on the field. How all eyes are on you when you have the ball in your hand.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
I played basketball and ran track. I’ve been running track since I was about seven I think, and I started playing basketball around the same time. I’m not playing basketball anymore, I’m still running track and doing more field events now too. I do shotput and discus.
What style of play do you feel best describes you?
Pound for pound back, that loves contact and loves getting vertical and running between tackles.
Going back to this previous season, what were your personal goals?
Being the focal of a championship team, doing whatever that took. Being a leader, doing whatever I could to help us win a championship.
Who would you say some of your biggest influences are?
My mom definitely. She has been a single mom all my life, she makes sure there is always food on the table and I have clothes on my back. She has sacrificed everything for me and my little sister. As far as athletes I’d say Saquon (Barkley) and Barry Sanders.
What do you think is a strength in your game play?
I will give you everything I got, I am the best at taking on contact and keeping the ball moving. Best at reading, I’m a patient back.
What motivates you the most?
Motivation in my parent’s situation. I just want to get out and live a better life for my parents and my sister.
If you weren’t playing football, what sport do you think you would be playing?
That’s a good question, I love football. Probably baseball, I think I’d like to play baseball but I’ve just never gotten it done.
At the end of this year, what would you want your coaches and teammates to say about you?
I would want everybody to know that at the end of the day, win, lose, or draw, I gave it my all. I performed to the best of my abilities. I had matured and I was one of the best backs to come through De La Salle.
On Game Day what would your ideal performance number be on a scale of 1 to 10?
A 10 always!
Why a 10?
Because what is the point of going out there if you’re not going to perform to the best of your abilities?
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