Tweet me!Just when you think Butch Jones is finished recruiting, the new Bearcat head football coach adds another player, and that's exactly what he did earlier today (Monday) when Ty Phillips (DT) verbally committed to the Bearcats.
The 2009 Missouri signee called Bearcat Lair Monday evening to inform us of his decision.
"I came down to UC today and met with Coach Jones. He offered me a spot and I took it right then," said Phillips. He said he also had recent scholarship offers from Michigan State and Kentucky. In 2009, he had chosen Missouri over an offer from Illinois.
After playing at East St. Louis High School, Phillips signed with the Missouri Tigers in 2009 but failed to meet NCAA academic standards. The 6' 2"/266 pounder said he then enrolled in a prep school to improve his grades and is less than two weeks from being academic qualified. He told BCL that he has taken classes at Union Christian and Pace since leaving East St. Louis.
As word of Phillips' academic success began to surface, more and more schools started showing interest in the defensive tackle.
"Ohio State liked me, and we were talking as well as with Virginia Tech," said Phillips.
Phillips explained why he ultimately chose the Bearcats.
"It wasn't because of football. It was mainly because of the academic part. They have a good rate of graduating African-Americans. That's the main reason I went there. Plus, all the coaches are down to earth."
Phillips had attended a Cincinnati spring football practice last month so he would have a first-hand experience with the UC program.
Because he signed a national letter of intent with the Missouri Tigers, he will not be permitted to sign one with UC. Instead, he is expected to sign grant-in-aid papers in the very near future. He plans to officially start classes at Cincinnati on June 20.
Even though grant-in-aid papers are not binding, Phillips says his recruitment is over.
"It's a done deal. I'm not changing my mind. I can't wait to get started. I'm going to work hard for the Bearcats."
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written by Jake Vanatsky , June 01, 2010
written by Antwan Tompkin , May 30, 2010
