2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Andru Phillips (CB – Kentucky)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Kentucky corner back Andru Phillips

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Andru Phillips

Andru Phillips (CB – Kentucky)

6-foot-0 | 187 pounds.

Background:

Three-star recruit who played sparingly in 2020 and 2021 before starting four of thirteen games played the following year, allowing 15/32 passing (46.9%) for 120 yards while breaking up four throws. This past year, stepped into a full-time starting role and allowed 39/58 passing (67.2%) for 438 yards and four touchdowns, breaking up six throws.

Positives:

Took over an SEC starting job this season and handled it pretty well. Relatively well-built corner who took snaps both inside and outside; slot snaps were about a third of his snaps this year and two-thirds last season. Handled relatively wide responsibilities in school, lining up in off, press, and zone coverages. Nice footwork to match releases at the line of scrimmage against press. Shows quick feet in his backpedal. Able to process route combinations pretty effectively from zone, with a relatively conservative approach. Has clean transitions to drive on a spot, with what looks like good closing speed. Does a pretty good job of squeezing the stem on in-breaking routes from off-coverage. Flips his hips well and has solid speed to carry receivers downfield. Does a nice job of getting his head around quickly to locate when his back is to the passer. Can be a physical hitter when he lines up opponents.

Negatives:

Looks a little bit smaller than his listed height. Functional strength is just average. Can look a bit flat-footed when playing in off-coverage. Hips open a bit too early at times. Conservative approach allows for quick, timing-based throws. Can be boxed out by bigger, stronger receivers. He finished his collegiate career without an interception and sometimes appears just a bit too short to make a play on the ball, even when he’s able to locate it. Tackling was an issue this past season, and he doesn’t have ideal stopping power. Can struggle to break down in the open field, coming in hot and leading to missed tackles.

Summary:

A quick, versatile cornerback who can play different techniques from both the boundary and the slot, he stepped into a full-time starting role this season and acquitted himself pretty well. Processes route combinations from zone pretty effectively and has the footwork, hips, and speed to function effectively in press-man as well. While he may struggle against bigger receivers because of his lack of ideal size, he should be able to cover smaller, quicker types relatively effectively. If he cleans up his tackling, could be a candidate to work his way into a slot role, perhaps fitting better on a zone-heavy team.

Projection: Round 5-6