2021 NFL Draft: Miami EDGE Jaelan Phillips back on the radar

Miami edge defender Jaelan Phillips is back on the radar as an exciting 2021 NFL Draft prospect.

The 2021 NFL Draft class currently lacks impact depth at the edge rusher position. Gregory Rousseau out of Miami stands tall as the top prospect at the position in the class according to most, but he has plenty of questions about his game. However, nobody really stands out as a legitimate threat to take his top spot. However, fellow Miami edge rusher Jaelan Phillips appears to be jumping back on the radar as an exciting 2021 NFL Draft prospect.

Phillips was a five-star prospect coming out of high school and one of the premier prospects in the 2017 recruiting class. He was considered by many to be a can’t miss prospect with an incredible future, but struggled to make much of an impact during his two seasons at UCLA.

The gifted Phillips nearly retired from football after suffering three concussions in two years at UCLA. However, he simply could not stay away from the game and is back on the field this season, this time for the Miami Hurricanes.

Phillips joins fellow-transfer Quincy Roche to form an incredible duo on the edge. Even with Rousseau sitting out the 2020 season, Miami still has arguably the best edge-rushing duo in all of college football. Through two games, both Roche and Phillips have been able to make a significant difference for the Hurricanes’ defense. Roche is a likely first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, but Phillips’ resurgence is a bit more unexpected.

With only five total tackles (including 1.5 for loss), it is easy to look at Phillips’ early numbers and come away less than impressed. However, he still flashes brilliance on the field and shows the ability to become a consistent playmaker at the next level.

Phillips is still extremely quick off of the ball and shows impressive natural power at the point of attack. He is long, quick and athletic, and also does a fantastic job of converting his speed to power. Through two games, Phillips has shown the ability to consistently put pressure on the quarterback and fill his gaps as a run defender. He is undoubtedly still a gifted player who has a high ceiling.

While he is unlikely to raise his 2021 NFL Draft stock much without some gaudy numbers, Phillips is certainly a guy to keep an eye throughout the season. He still shows an exciting overall skill-set and could make a major rise in an edge rusher class that could use another top-tier prospect. It has been a strong start to the season for Phillips. Can he capitalize on his success and become a top-tier prospect? Only time will tell.