Phillips has pedigree

For 13 straight years, at least one University of Miami player has been drafted in the first round. If the streak holds up, it increasingly looks like defensive end Calais Campbell -- and not safety Kenny Phillips -- will keep the run intact. The Hurricanes' worst record in 30 years (5-7) saw both players' stock drop. But Campbell could be off the board in the middle of the first round if there is the usual run on defensive linemen.

Phillips' fall to the second round is something of an enigma. A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in the country, Phillips has a legendary work ethic that includes tireless film study. He ran a sub-4.5 40-yard dash at the combine and comes from the same program that produced standout NFL safeties Bennie Blades, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor and Brandon Meriweather.

Why, then, is Phillips falling? He's hurt by the tapes from last season, when he didn't make plays expected of him. North Carolina State's DaJuan Morgan seems to have overtaken Phillips despite having just one year of production, always risky in NFL evaluations. Arkansas State's Tyrell Johnson also is moving up the board after a series of great workouts.

Phillips and Johnson project as strong safeties, while Morgan is a free safety. Those distinctions have been muddled, though, as teams make the positions interchangeable to handle pass-happy offenses.

SPOTLIGHT: KENNY PHILLIPS
6-2 | 208 | FS | MIAMI

Q. Miami has had a first-round pick for 13 straight years. Can you or Calais Campbell keep it going?

A. We really don't worry about it too much. We're going to do our best, and whatever happens, happens.

Q. How has Miami pulled off that streak?

A. The program that's there. The guys work really hard. We have great coaches and perform well. Coaches see we can play on that level and take us in the first round.

Q. Are you concerned that the disappointing season the Hurricanes had last year will affect how teams look at you?

A. It might. I think about it a little bit. But the way I played speaks for itself. Even though we didn't have a good season, I feel I performed well.

Q. You are known to study a lot of film. How much time do you spend doing that?

A. It's hard to say, I spend so much time in the film room. I got that trick from Ed Reed. When I first got there, me and him talked a whole lot, and he told me to stay in the film room. I spend probably three, four hours a day [watching film].

Q. You also have played a bit of cornerback. Do you feel a premium is being placed on cover safeties in the NFL?

A. I think so. You have a lot of guys, I don't want to say can't cover, but they can't cover. [Laughs.] They are asking a lot out of safeties. They want you to support the run and also be able to cover a tight end and a slot receiver, so they definitely put a premium on it.

Q. How much pride would you take in being that player who keeps the Miami streak alive?

A. It would be real good. I don't want to be the one who messes up the tradition. Nobody wants to be the one who messes it up.

Q. What do you see in the future for Miami?

A. I think we're going to bounce back. Probably not this year because we have a lot of young guys, but definitely next year. We've got a lot of great recruits who are going to help us. It's going to take maybe a year, but we'll be right back on top.

(suntimes.com)