The Hurry Up: Georgia Linebacker Hopes to Hear from Ohio State While Buckeyes Extend Offer to Alabama Wideout

By Andrew Lind on February 12, 2017 at 7:15 pm
Kevin "K.J." Phillips
Kevin "K.J." Phillips
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The Hurry Up is your nightly dose of updates from the Ohio State football recruiting trail, keeping tabs on the latest from commits and targets from around the country.

TACKLING MACHINE

As evidenced by its second-ranked recruiting class, Ohio State certainly doesn't need any help finding elite prospects. But every now and then, a player like Atlanta, Georgia, Woodward Academy three-star linebacker Kevin “K.J.” Phillips slips through the cracks.

“I love Ohio State,” Phillips told Eleven Warriors. “One of my closest friends, Emory Jones, is already committed there. I watched [former linebacker and Georgia native] Raekwon McMillan when he was in high school, so I've always been interested in the Buckeyes. I would love to hear more from the university.”

The 5-foot-9, 190-pound Phillips is considered the 34th-best inside linebacker and No. 960 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He recorded 431 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss and 17 sacks as a three-year starter for the War Eagles and is within reach of the state's the all-time career tackles record held by the late University of Tennessee great Andy Spiva, but only holds offers from Charlotte and Tulane.

“I love the game of football,” Phillips said. “I just have the confidence in my God-given ability and with all the extra work I put forth each and every day. My favorite place to be is on the field or in a gym mastering my craft. I just love being doubted because that's my motivation to give forth my best every Friday night. I refuse to be outworked.”

Phillips believes he'd earn a scholarship if the staff watched him play in person.

“As long as I stay on the right path, I hope and pray they take interest in me sooner rather than later,” he said. “I'm just going to keep working.”

PACKAGE DEAL?

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, four-star wide receiver Shaquon Anderson-Butts has visited Ohio State on several occasions over the last few months with five-star teammate Micah Parsons, including the Buckeyes' recent Junior Day.

 

Off guard #zone6 #gobucks

A photo posted by @quon13_ on

"It was a great time down there. Real fun in Ohio," Anderson-Butts told Eleven Warriors. "I got to see a little more about the school and talk with many different people."

The 6-foot, 193-pound Anderson-Butts is considered the 44th-best wideout and the No, 279 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds 16 offers from programs such as Boston College, Maryland, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh and Syrcacuse.

Anderson-Butts recorded a team-high 38 receptions, 779 yards and 10 touchdowns last season to help the Cougars to the state championship game.

IN ENEMY TERRITORY

Ohio State offered a scholarship on Friday night to Phenix City, Alabama, Central four-star wide receiver Justyn Ross.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Ross is considered the fourth-best wideout and No. 31 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds more than 20 offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and USC.

Ross was named first-team all-state last season after he recorded 40 receptions for more than 700 yards and eight touchdowns to help the Red Devils to the state semifinals.

CIRCLING BACK

The Buckeyes also recently offered a scholarship to Norcross, Georgia, Greater Atlanta Christian four-star running back Kyler McMichael.

“It means a lot,” McMichael told Eleven Warriors. “It's a great institute, and their athletics are off the charts.”

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound McMichael is considered the 25th-best running back and the No. 194 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He rushed for 1,493 yards and 16 touchdowns to earn more than a dozen offers from schools such as Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.

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