He has the size and length to draw interest, but a lack of explosiveness and below average ability to hold his ground against the run hurts his cause. Phillips was out of position at the 5 and 4i techniques in Tennessee's defense but had occasional flashes as a pure 4-3 defensive end. He's more project than prospect at this point, but additional muscle and technique could give him a roster shot down the road.
On paper, he has size, speed and athletic traits with the ability to play high safety, split zone and over the slot. On tape, he lacks instincts and ball-hawking tendencies to disrupt passing attacks with positioning and/or ball skills. Abernathy's pro day testing numbers were strong across the board and those traits can get defensive backs drafted late even if the tape is uneven. He's a big nickel/safety prospect with a chance at finding time on the practice squad or back-end of the roster.
