Ocoee football standout, Maryland star DT Jordan Phillips declares for NFL Draft

Former Ocoee Knights standout athlete Jordan Phillips, a redshirt sophomore football player at the University of Maryland, has announced his decision to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.

"I want to take a moment to give all thanks and praise to God for always being by my side, guiding me through every challenge and blessing me with the strength to reach this point," Phillips wrote in a post to his X account. "I also want to express my deepest gratitude to my mom, who has made countless sacrifices and has (given me) unwavering support every step of the way. A special thank you to Coach (Mike) Locksley, Coach Brian Williams, Coach Ryan Davis and his staff, and the academic and athletic department as a whole. Your wisdom, guidance and belief in me have shaped me into the player and person I am today. I am truly grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for being a part of my journey. With that being said, I'd like to take this opportunity to announce that I'm declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. Terps Nation, it's been real. Thank you for your support."

Phillips recorded 57 total tackles, 2.5 of which were for a loss, and played in all 25 games during his two seasons as a Terrapin. Before he transferred to Maryland, he appeared in three games for Tennessee as a true freshman in 2022. 

As a senior for the Knights, Phillips, a three-star prospect and 247Sports' No. 47-ranked defensive tackle in the country, racked up 56 tackles, 29 TFLs and 11.5 sacks.

Prior to the 2024 season, the 6-foot-3, 320-pound interior defensive lineman was named to the 2024 edition of the "College football Freaks List" by The Athletic's Bruce Feldman. The 101-player annual list ranks the game's most freakishly and physically gifted athletes, with the former Knights' three-sport star landing at No. 51. 

When interviewed for the story, Phillips' head coach at Maryland, Mike Locksley, compared his young defensive lineman to former Alabama star and first-round draft pick Daron Payne.

"This kid is a manchild," Locksley said. "He's explosive. He's Daron Payne. He's a nose tackle, but he's light and so twitchy."

Combine the twitchiness Locksley describes with insane strength – shown by his ability to squat 665 pounds, power clean 365 pounds, and do two overhead press reps of 365 pounds – and it's easy to see why Phillips made the list and why he'll be an interesting prospect for NFL teams come the 2025 NFL Draft in late April at Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers.