The Awards Keep Coming For Clark Phillips III
Dec 9, 2022, 12:42 PM | Updated: 12:45 pm
Clark Phillips III #8 of the Utah Utes breaks up a pass intended for Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first quarter in the Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- The past few days have been great for the football team as a whole, but on a personal level, few have had it better than Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III. Yesterday, Phillips III notched the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award for the Pac-12 along with being named to the Walter Camp All-America First-Team.
December 9, 2022 appears to be another great day for CPIII who has now been recognized and honored by the Football Writers Association of America with their first-team All-America award.
To say @ClarkPhillips21 is a special player would be an understatement. #GoUtes https://t.co/KoVuUJHjHc
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 9, 2022
Clark Phillips III’s Utah Career
Clark Phillips III arrived on Utah’s campus in 2020 as a freshman with his mind set on implementing the Jaylon Johnson plan: play for three years, win all the awards, graduate and go to the NFL. Check, check, check, yet-to-be-determined, but almost certainly check.
CPIII quickly earned the approval of Utah fans everywhere with his ability to sniff out the ball and take it to the house pretty much from the start of his career. However, Phillips III really put himself on the map last season on a national scale by keeping Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud and their stable of receivers at bay in Utah’s first-ever Rose Bowl appearance.
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Since that performance, Phillips III has been on NFL scout’s radars, and he hasn’t disappointed in his final season at Utah earning himself a potential first-round Draft grade. CPIII is currently tied for second in the nation with interceptions in 2022 with six to his name.
Phillips III’s efforts in 2022 for Utah’s defense have made him a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the best defensive back, and a semi-finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the best defensive player in the country.
Phillips III was named earlier in the week to the Pac-12’s First-Team while making various other media outlets’ post-season honors.
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
