Booker T. Washington 4-star LB Joseph Phillips commits to Auburn over UGA

Four-star Booker T. Washington linebacker Joseph Phillips has committed to Auburn, choosing the Tigers over SEC rivals Georgia and Tennessee among others. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Phillips is Auburn’s third commitment in as many days following Baker wide receiver Bryce Cain and Naples, Fla., defensive back Kensley Faustin on Tuesday. Hugh Freeze and company now have eight commitments in the Class of 2024. “As long as he stays injury free and keeps developing, I think Joseph will be a guy who plays on Sundays,” Booker T. head coach Lawrence O’Neal told AL.com. Phillips finished with 75 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss and 9 sacks in 2022. He also caught 6 touchdown passes on offense. “He’s really only played one year of football,” O’Neal said. “He quickly took ownership of the football team and took on a leadership role on the defense. He’s one of the smartest guys on the team. He’s a joy to coach because he is still so raw that he soaks up everything you give him. He wants to be the best.” Phillips saw himself as more of a basketball player early in his high school career, but a conversation with O’Neal changed his future. “He had told me basketball was his sport,” O’Neal said. “They were playing him at center. I just told him one day to go home and look up how many basketball centers in college are 6-2.5 or 6-3 and 240 pounds. He came back to me the next day and said, ‘Coach, I couldn’t find one.’ “I told him at his size in basketball, he would need to be a 1 or a 2 guard and be able to fill it up, and he didn’t play either. But at his size in football, he was already a grown man. He started lifting weights and coming to meetings. We played him out of position to start so he could get the hang of it. He started three games at safety before we moved him to the box. The rest is history.” Phillips has steadily climbed the recruiting rankings after his banner junior year. He is currently No. 8 among rising senior prospects in the state in the latest 247 composite rankings. He is Auburn’s highest-ranked in-state commit in the Class of 2024. “He has speed, explosiveness,” O’Neal said. “When he gets to the ball, he’s very violent. He’s also a smart kid. You might get him once, but you are not going to keep getting him with the same thing over and over again.” Phillips is Auburn’s fifth in-state commitment in the class, joining Cain, Andalusia running back J’Marion Burnette, Moody defensive back A’Mon Lane and Anniston defensive back Jayden Lewis.