Western Michigan's Phillips Selected By Cincinnati In the Fifth Round
WESTERN MICHIGAN'S PHILLIPS SELECTED BY CINCINNATI IN 5TH ROUND OF 2018 NFL DRAFT
DB/KR Darius Phillips selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 5th round, 170th overall, in the 2018 NFL Draft
Western Michigan defensive back and returner Darius Phillips was a fifth-round draft choice, 170th overall, by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2018 NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon.
Phillips has made a name for himself as an explosive returner and a ball hawk on defense. He is a two-time MAC Special Teams Player of the Year (2016 & 2017) and has earned All-MAC defensive team honors each of his three seasons after converting from a wide receiver to a defensive back prior to his sophomore year.
Phillips scored 14 career touchdowns five different ways (5 KR, 1 PR, 5 INT, 1 FR, 2 receiving). Four of his five kickoff returns went for 100 yards, two of which were against top 5-ranked teams and two coming in back-to-back weeks to open his senior season (at USC, at Michigan State). He set an FBS career record with 12 career runbacks and tied the FBS record with five career pick sixes. His 3,145 career kickoff return yards ranks sixth in FBS history.
MAC Students Selected In 2018 NFL Draft
3rd round, 92nd overall OL Chukwuma Okorafor (Western Michigan) by the Pittsburgh Steelers
5th round, 157th overall TE Tyler Conklin (Central Michigan) by the Minnesota Vikings
5th round, 170th overall DB/KR Darius Phillips (Western Michigan) by the Cincinnati Bengals
