COLLEGE: The Dallas Cowboys used their second selection in the sixth round (208th overall) on tight end John Phillips. In Dallas, Phillips will have the opportunity to develop behind one of the NFL's best tight ends in Jason Witten and second-year man Martellus Bennett while under the tutelage of his former college coach, and current Cowboys tight ends coach, John Garrett, with whom he spent two seasons with at Virginia (2005-06). Phillips finished his collegiate career with 69 receptions for 670 yards with five touchdowns as a Cavalier.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY:
4/26/09: Drafted in the sixth round (208th overall) by Dallas.
2008:
Earned first team All-ACC honors.
Posted the second-best performance by a Cavaliers tight end in school history with 48 receptions for 385 yards and two touchdowns during his senior season.
His 48 receptions also were the ninth-most by a tight end in a single season in ACC history.
Played and started all 12 games and was a team captain.
Hauled in five passes for 33 yards in the team's opener against Southern California.
Recorded five catches for 59 yards at Duke.
Caught his first touchdown pass of the season against East Carolina on a 12-yard reception on a fake field goal as part of a six-catch, 47-yard performance.
Made a career-best seven receptions for 36 yards against Miami.
His seven receptions against the Hurricanes were the most by a Cavalier tight end since Jonathan Stupar caught seven against Miami in 2006.
Hauled in his second touchdown of the season at Wake Forest along with four passes for 43 yards.
2007:
Made eight starts while playing in all 13 games as a junior to finish fifth on the team in receiving with 17 receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns, figures that were more than his career totals coming into the season.
Tied for ninth in the ACC in receptions and 10th in yards among tight ends.
Ended the regular-season with a nine-game streak with at least one catch.
Caught three passes for 25 yards against Middle Tennessee, including hauling in a 20-yard scoring pass in the first quarter.
Scored for the second game in a row with an eight-yard grab against Connecticut.
Led the team in receiving with four receptions for a career-high 77 yards against Miami with all four catches going for a first down.
2006:
Appeared in 12 games and started in three.
Made two catches for 65 yards on the year.
First reception was for 21 yards against Duke.
Caught a 44-yard pass on Virginia's opening drive against Miami to set up the Cavaliers first touchdown in a 17-7 win.
His catch against Miami was the longest reception by a tight end during the season.
2005:
Appeared in every game as a freshman with starts against North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech to record two receptions for 27 yards and one touchdown on the year.
While seeing time at tight end, also played on the kickoff return team and the kick scoring unit.
Played only special teams in the first two games.
Saw his first action from scrimmage in the Duke game.
The first catch of his career was good for a 12-yard touchdown against the Blue Devils as he bulled his way into the end zone coming on just his second play from scrimmage.
Caught a 15-yard pass later in the game against Duke to finish with two receptions for 27 yards.
Made his first career start against North Carolina.
PERSONAL:
Talented two-way player at tight end and defensive end for coach at Bath County High School in Hot Springs, VA.
First-team all-state tight end as a senior when he caught 40 passes for 714 yards and five touchdowns.
Roanoke Times All-Timesland tight end and region defensive Player of the Year.
First-team all-state at tight end and second-team as a defensive end as a junior, catching 25 passes for 495 yards and six touchdowns in just 10 games.
Also a standout in basketball and baseball where he was three-time all-district honoree in both sports.
