Miami Hurricanes DE Jaelan Phillips ready to make impact

The 2020 Miami Hurricanes are poised to have an unprecedented pass rush. Led by redshirt sophomore Greg Rousseau and graduate transfer Quincy Roche, they will be backed up by the top recruit in the nation in 2017, Jaelan Phillips.

The talent the Miami Hurricanes have at edge rusher in 2020 could be the best group ever assembled. Doubt that? Redshirt sophomore Greg Rousseau is the top returning sacker in the nation for 2020 after posting 15.5 sacks in 2019. Miami adds graduate transfer Quincy Roche who had 13 sacks with Temple in 2019.

Neither of them might be the most talented defensive end on the Miami Hurricanes roster. Redshirt junior Jaelan Phillips was the top recruit in the nation in 2017. Phillips was named in the  247Sports article“Reintroducing 21 former big-time players ready to bounce back.”  Phillips should be a force for Miami in 2020.

Phillips worked hard in the weight room with Miami strength and conditioning coordinator David Feeley and is now up to 258 pounds. At UCLA, before transferring to Miami, Phillips was an outside linebacker in the Bruins 3-4 defense. As a defensive end in the Miami 4-3, Phillips needed to add muscle.

Reports have been glowing for Phillips throughout the 2020 offseason and during the four practices Miami got in for spring football during the first week of March. Phillips added muscle and has retained speed according to various reports. The names Phillips bested to rank as the top college football recruit in 2017 are impressive.

"JAELAN PHILLIPS, DE, MIAMIReason for detour: InjuryQuick, name the No. 1 overall player in the 2017 class. Chase Young? A.J. Epenesa? Jeff Okudah? Tua Tagovailoa? No. No. No. No. It was Phillips, per the 247Sports Composite. The California native had a strong start to his career at UCLA, posting eight tackles for loss in 10 games his first two seasons.But injuries derailed any real momentum, and it eventually led to a transfer to Miami. Phillips sat out all of last season recovering and building up his body. He’s up 40 pounds since arriving in Coral Gables, and Phillips will be a huge part of one of the nation’s best defensive line groups in 2020."

In two seasons, in 10 games at UCLA playing as a true freshman and sophomore in 2017 and ’18, Phillips recorded 41 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two pass breakups. At Miami, Phillips will return to his more natural position of DE, than the OLB position, he played at UCLA. He is the latest Miami star from California.

Miami has recruited stars from the Golden State in the past that include quarterbacks Gino Torretta, Ken Dorsey and Brad Kaaya and linebacker D.J. Williams. If Phillips stays healthy he should put up excellent numbers in 2020 teaming with Rousseau and Roche. If that happens Phillips is likely NFL bound in 2021.