Shakim Phillips

Shakim Phillips
Free agent
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	March 19, 1992 (age 26); Paterson, New Jersey
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	DePaul Catholic High School (Wayne, NJ)
College:	Boston College
Undrafted:	2015
Career history
	Pittsburgh Steelers (2015–2016)*;
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
	Player stats at NFL.com
	Player stats at NFL.com

Last updated February 21, 2019

Shakim Phillips (born March 19, 1992) is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed as an undrafted free agent to the Steelers after going undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft. He played college football at Boston College and the University of Connecticut.

American football, referred to as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, which is the team controlling the oval-shaped football, attempts to advance down the field by running with or passing the ball, while the defense, which is the team without control of the ball, aims to stop the offense's advance and aims to take control of the ball for themselves. The offense must advance at least ten yards in four downs, or plays, and otherwise they turn over the football to the defense; if the offense succeeds in advancing ten yards or more, they are given a new set of four downs. Points are primarily scored by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone for a touchdown or kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts for a field goal. The team with the most points at the end of a game wins.

A wide receiver, also referred to as wideouts or simply receivers, is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is a key player. They get their name because they are split out "wide", farthest away from the rest of the team. Wide receivers are among the fastest players on the field. The wide receiver functions as the pass-catching specialist.

The 2015 NFL Draft was the 80th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players. It took place in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre and in Grant Park, from April 30 to May 2. The previous fifty NFL drafts had been held in New York City. The 2015 NFL draft was the first to feature an outdoor component, where fans would be able to see the Commissioner on the Auditorium Theatre stage from across the street in the park; this area was called Draft Town. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the right to select first because they had the league's worst record in the previous season. The Arizona Cardinals made the final pick in the draft, commonly called Mr. Irrelevant.

High school career

Phillips played football DePaul Catholic High School as a teenager. As a junior in 2008, he finished the season with 40 catches, 765 receiving yards, and 12 touchdown receptions. The next year, he led DePaul to a 7–2 record. After his senior year, he was invited to play for the east team in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

College career

Boston College

After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Boston College to play for head coach Frank Spaziani. In week 7, he made his first career catch for 9-yards in a 19–24 loss to #17 Florida State. In the next game, against Maryland, he returned a kickoff for 63-yards. He ended his freshman year with only one catch, but played in 4 games.^[1]

Frank Spaziani is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the defensive coordinator at New Mexico State University. He served as the head football coach at Boston College from 2009 to 2012, compiling a record of 22 wins and 29 losses. Prior to becoming head coach, Spaziani served on the Eagles' coaching staff for 12 years, the last 10 as defensive coordinator.

The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in the sport of American football. The Seminoles compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The team is known for its storied history, distinctive helmet, fight song and colors as well as the many traditions associated with the school.

The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland, College Park in the sport of American football. The Terrapins compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Big Ten Conference. The Terrapins joined the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2014, following 62 years in the Atlantic Coast Conference as a founding member. Mike Locksley is the head coach.

University of Connecticut

After his freshman year, Phillips had decided to transfer to UConn after he no longer wanted to play for Boston College's head coach Frank Spaziani. Due to the NCAA's student transfer guidelines, he was required to sit out the entire 2011 season.

After resuming his career in the beginning of the 2012 season, he made 4 catches for 42 receiving yards, in a week 4 lost to Western Michigan. He then racked up a career-high 7 receptions in a week 7 contest against Temple. On November 9, he caught 5 passes for 52 yards against Pittsburgh. In week 13, he pulled in another 7 receptions, tying his career-high, against Cincinnati. He finished his first season with UConn, ranking second on the team with 32 catches for 399 yards and a touchdown.

The Western Michigan Broncos football program represents Western Michigan University in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Western Michigan has competed in football since 1906, when they played three games in their inaugural season. In 1927, WMU joined four other schools to form the Michigan Collegiate Conference. Western Michigan then moved to its present conference in 1948. Prior to 1939, Western Michigan's athletic teams were known as the Hilltoppers.

The Temple Owls football team represents Temple University in the sport of college football. The Temple Owls compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the American Athletic Conference. They play their home games at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Pittsburgh Panthers football program is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football competition, now termed the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, since the beginning of the school's sponsorship of the sport in 1890. As of the 2013 season, Pitt competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

He continued to play at UConn for his junior season in 2013. In the season opener, after UConn switched from the Big East to the American Conference, he caught 5 passes for 77 yards and 2 touchdown receptions in an 18–33 loss to the FCS's #11 Towson. The next game he had 10 completions, 178 receiving yards, and scored a 75-yard touchdown reception against Maryland. In a week 7 contest against Cincinnati, Phillips finished the game with 3 receptions and 38 receiving yards. He then went on to catch 4 passes for 73 yards in a 14–17 overtime loss at SMU. In 2013, he started only 8 games, missing 4 due to injury, but ended up finishing his last season at UConn with 28 receptions, 406 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns while also graduating with a bachelor's degree in resource economics.^[2]

The American Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, featuring 12 member universities and six associate member universities that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I, with its football teams competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Member universities represent a range of private and public universities of various enrollment sizes located primarily in urban metropolitan areas in the Northeastern, Midwestern, and Southern regions of the United States.

The NCAA Division I Football Championship is a annual post-season college football game, played since 2006, used to determine a national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). From 1978 to 2005, the game was known as the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship.

The Towson Tigers football team represents Towson University in the sport of American football. The Tigers compete in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Tigers are currently coached by Rob Ambrose. All home games are played at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Maryland.

Return to Boston College

Phillips decided to return to Boston College to play his last collegiate season after they replaced former head coach Frank Spaziani with Steve Adazio. Since he already graduated from UConn in the previous year, he was not required to sit out a season after transferring. In a week 2 loss to Pittsburgh, he racked up a season-high 4 catches and 78 receiving yards while also scoring a 48-yard touchdown. The next week against #9 USC, Phillips was held to only one catch for 17 yards. At Wake Forest, in week 9, he caught a crucial 37-yard touchdown in a 23–17 victory. On November 22, the Eagles played #1 Florida State. In the game, Phillips scored a season long 49-yard touchdown. The following week, he was held to a single 30-yard reception in a 28–7 victory over Syracuse. His last collegiate game was played in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Penn State where he finished with 3 catches for 40 yards including a 19-yard touchdown. Phillips finished his last season with a career-high 21.7 yards per catch and season totals of 13 receptions, 282 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns.

Phillips finished his collegiate career with career totals of 74 receptions, 1,096 receiving yards, 14.9 yards per reception, and 8 touchdown receptions in 36 career games.

Professional career

With no eligibility left, Phillips declared for the 2015 NFL Draft. After going undrafted, Phillips signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 12, 2015, reuniting him with Boston College teammate, quarterback turned wide receiver, Tyler Murphy.^[3] Phillips was released by the Steelers on September 5 and signed to the team's practice squad on September 6, 2015.^[4]^[5]

Phillips began the Steeler's training camp in 2016 on the injured-reserve/physically unable to perform list after suffering a sports hernia. The Steelers reported on August 3, 2016, that they had waived Phillips off of their injured-reserve.^[6]

Related Research Articles

Hines Edward Ward Jr. is a former American football wide receiver who played 14 seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Georgia. The Steelers selected him in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft and he became the team's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yardage and touchdown receptions. Ward was voted MVP of Super Bowl XL and upon retirement was one of eight NFL players to have at least 1,000 career receptions.

Earl Heath Miller Jr. is a former American football tight end who played professionally for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons from 2005 to 2015. Miller played college football for the University of Virginia, where he earned All-American honors and won the John Mackey Award. The Steelers selected him in the first round with the 30th overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft.

Jerricho Cotchery is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers from 2004 to 2015. He played college football for North Carolina State University.

Terrance Terrel Copper is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League, who played for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football at East Carolina University.

Nate Washington is a former American football wide receiver. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2005 and played on two Super Bowl-winning teams. He has also played for the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans.

Santonio Holmes Jr. is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft after playing college football at Ohio State. In 2009, Holmes was named MVP of Super Bowl XLIII as his team beat the Arizona Cardinals. In 2010, Holmes was traded to the New York Jets in exchange for the Jets' fifth round pick. Holmes also played a season for the Chicago Bears.

Darrius Ramar Heyward-Bey is an American football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders seventh overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Maryland. Heyward-Bey has also played for the Indianapolis Colts.

Burnell Michael "Mike" Wallace III is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Ole Miss, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round, 84th overall of the 2009 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens. Throughout his career, Wallace has been known for his speed after finishing with a time of 4.33-seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Richard P. "Rich" Gunnell is a former American football wide receiver. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Boston College.

Antonio Tavaris Brown Sr. is an American football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Raised in Liberty City, Miami, Brown attended Miami Norland High School where he played both football and track. He played college football at Central Michigan University, where he earned All-American honors in 2008 and 2009 as a punt returner. A sixth round pick, since entering the league, no player has amassed more receptions and receiving yards than Brown.

Emmanuel Niamiah Sanders is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Jordan Todman is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Connecticut. Todman has also played for the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, and Houston Texans.

Ladarius Green is a former American football tight end. He played college football at Louisiana–Lafayette and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Tyler Alexander Boyd is an American football wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh.

Martavis Bryant is an American football wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Taylor James Gabriel is an American football wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Abilene Christian and was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He has also spent time with the Atlanta Falcons.

Cameron Michael Clear is an American football tight end for the San Antonio Commanders. He played college football at Texas A&M, and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after going undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft. Clear has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

Eli Lamar Rogers is an American football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals.

Chester Rogers is an American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Grambling State and signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

Robert Foster Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama.

References

↑ "Boston College:Player Bio: Shakim Phillips". Archived from the original on July 12, 2015.
↑ "UConn Player Stats: Shakim Phillips".
↑ "Boston College Football: WR Shakim Phillips signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers".
↑ "SHAKIM PHILLIPS". foxsports.com. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
↑ "Steelers sign 10 players to the Practice Squad". Steelers.com. September 6, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
↑ Dave Bryan (September 3, 2016). "Steelers waive WR Shakim Phillips from reserve/injured". steelersdepot.com. Retrieved November 17, 2016.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[Boston_College-1] "Boston College:Player Bio: Shakim Phillips". Archived from the original on July 12, 2015.

[UCONNhuskies.com-2] "UConn Player Stats: Shakim Phillips".

[BC_Interruption-3] "Boston College Football: WR Shakim Phillips signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers".

[4] "SHAKIM PHILLIPS". foxsports.com. Retrieved July 8, 2016.

[5] "Steelers sign 10 players to the Practice Squad". Steelers.com. September 6, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2017.

[6] Dave Bryan (September 3, 2016). "Steelers waive WR Shakim Phillips from reserve/injured". steelersdepot.com. Retrieved November 17, 2016.