Interview: 4-Star 2020 CB Clark Phillips Displaying Same Talents at Receiver

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Everyone in southern California knows how good Class of 2020 cornerback Clark Phillips is on defense, but few knew he was this damn good at receiver. The shutdown corner impressed as a sophomore earning MaxPreps’ All-American honors, and could be on the path to earning similar honors on both sides of the ball when the 2018 season concludes.

It took a while for the proverbial light bulb to go on for opposing offensive coordinators in 2017, but the bulb is a megawatt lumen now. Phillips earned all his honors a year ago the hard way coming up with 31 stops, 15 pass breakups, and stole seven passes away from California competition. His role on offense then was small, coming up with 127 yards off eight carries and pulled in one pass for nine yards. All has flipped this season. La Habra High School is off to a 6-3 record with their four-star prospect showing out as a receiver. Through the nine games, Phillips has pulled in 47 passes for 982 yards with 16 touchdowns giving college coaches something extra to think about for their 2020 roster.

The 26 offers handed over to the 5-11, 181-pound, defender are still for all the right reasons. When tested, Phillips is there to answer the call, it just does not happen very often. Even on running plays, teams are going the other way with Phillips netting seven tackles. On passing downs, the opposition has been denied six times and has had the ball taken away twice while he has only surrendered two or three passes in man coverage this season.

In a Recruiting News Guru stylized Q&A interview, I sat down with Phillips for an update on yet another amazing season on the gridiron while learning more about the ever growing recruiting prospects coming his way.

*Click link for June 25, 2018, RNG video interview with Clark Phillips

Interview

Clark, we all knew you were a tremendous all-around athlete but the production you are putting up at receiver this season is next level stuff. Has it been fun for you getting to showcase your athleticism on offense this year?

“Yes. Definitely. But, it has not been about me, it has been about me wanting to win. I keep telling my coaches I want to be part of the legacy at La Habra, win games and win a title. I am doing what it takes to help us win.”

How are you being utilized within the offense and what kind of routes are you and Ryan Zanelli connecting on this season?

“We have great chemistry. We are connecting on intermediate and short routes, and the occasional deep pass. A lot of the routes are in the open-field giving me an opportunity to make guys miss.”

Your stat line is down on defense this year, are teams just outright going the other way all season?

“Basically. It has been frustrating but every now and again a team will try me. Teams throw the other way and maybe run my way every now and again. The better teams do not care, they will try me. It is fun for me either way.”

You still have two passes picked off and five batted away tosses, I’m sure you want to be challenged all the time but even in those seven instances are you surprised you were tested?

“A little bit. As a defensive back, I like to have this mentality thinking every play is coming my way. I am always set up for it, ready for it to happen. I am excited when it comes my way.”

How many passes have been caught on you this season say 10 yards or more in man coverage?

“Not many. Maybe two or three in coverage.”

The Highlanders played some really tough teams early in the season, how did those big games help you guys once you got into Freeway League games?

“It made us stronger as a unit and as a group. We started off 0-4 (Mission Viejo game became a forfeit). A lot of people looked at us as the season was over at that point. But, we are stronger and now we are dominating. Our guys are getting stronger and stepping up in league play.”

The team has been firing on all cylinders against Freeway League foes with a 4-0 record looking to claim the title on Friday with a road game against Buena Park (3-6). What kind of game are you and the guys expecting from the Coyotes?

“We are expecting a tough game, it is a rivalry game. They are the underdogs. They will come out with a chip on their shoulder. I think they will come out hard, fast, and physical like it is their last game.”

With recruiting, how many offers do you have now?

“I think I have 26 offers now.”

Which programs were the last few to offer you?

“Penn State, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Auburn.”

Are any schools showing interest but have not offered yet?

“Yeah. Ohio State and TCU, there are a couple of others I cannot think of right now.”

Have you taken any visits over the last few months?

“We went to USC, Oregon (spring game), and the Arizona schools in the spring.”

Was the USC visit a game day visit?

“Yes. For the Washington State game.”

How did that visit go?

“It went great. I talked to the coaching staff and I talked to some of the players on the team. It was a great experience, and they won.”

Do you have any planned visits upcoming?

“Yes. I am going to LSU for the Alabama game and the following weekend I am going to Texas A&M for the Ole Miss game. There are some more we are planning on taking that I cannot think of right now.”

For teams that feel they have a shot at landing you, what do you like about recruiting pitches from coaches and what drives you crazy?

“I love the coaches. I am getting a lot of mail from all the schools recruiting me, but I love the personal message letters. I like receiving the messages telling me ‘good luck, Clark,’ and the ‘how are you doing’ messages. I like the different edits teams send over. I try not to base my opinions on schools off stuff like that, but those are cool things I like.

“What drives me crazy, I’m not really sure. Lying would drive me crazy. It has not happened to me yet. Sometimes schools will say they love me, but you see on their board another guy who is taller listed ahead of me but he is getting burned every Friday night.”

Important question. What are you dressing up as for Halloween this year?

(Laughs) “I’m either going with a Jaylen Ramsey (Jaguars) jersey or I will go as a zombie. I’ll put some makeup on and be scary.”

If you knock on doors of NFL quarterbacks in the Ramsey jersey, that would be scary for them. What did you dress up as last year?

“Last year, I didn’t dress up. We went out and did the haunted house thing and mazes.”

Do you have a favorite scary movie you like to watch for this holiday?

“I’m not a big fan of scary movies. We went to the new Halloween movie this weekend, it was a great movie. That kept me and my family awake and paying attention. Mike Myers is a scary guy.”

Clark, always great catching up with you. Thanks for your time and good luck on Friday against Buena Park.

“Thank you.”

**Clark Phillips’ offer sheet:

Alabama, UCLA, LSU, Oregon, Florida, Nebraska, Arizona State, Arizona, Fresno State, Colorado State, BYU, Nevada, San Jose State, Penn State, Texas A&M, Washington State, New Mexico, Oregon State, Vanderbilt, Utah, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Auburn, Notre Dame, and Washington

Photo credit: Clark Phillips Twitter: Clark Phillips in action