4-star LB Joseph Phillips sets commitment date

Tuskegee (Ala.) Booker T. Washington four-star linebacker Joseph Phillips narrowed his list of top schools down to five in April, and now he is ready to make his college commitment.

On Wednesday, Phillips announced that he will be committing Thursday, June 15 at 12 p.m. CT.

Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas A&M are among the contenders he will be choosing from.

Committing tomorrow @ 12 😤😤!@ChadSimmons_ @SWiltfong247 @ALLGASATHLETES @On3Recruits @RyanWrightRNG @CoachLAoneal12 pic.twitter.com/pQw6QySXBM

— josephphillips_2 (@D1joe22) June 14, 2023

“All five schools have good football programs,” Phillips told On3’s Chad Simmons in April. “The facilities are nice and a lot of the schools have the same things I like. The biggest difference about these five schools from the rest that are recruiting me is the environment.”

Phillips has visited each of his finalists this year. He has been to Auburn three times, Georgia three times and Clemson, Tennessee and Texas A&M once. The Bulldogs are the only program to host him yet for an official visit, which they did the weekend of June 2.

“My decision will be based on relationships and the ability to play,” Phillips added. “I want to trust the coaches with me on and off the field. It is important for me to see the chance to play early too.”

He originally planned to make his decision in August but has moved up his timeline to get on board with the program of his choosing.

The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder is the No. 132 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the country’s No. 11 linebacker and the No. 8 recruit in Alabama.

On3, however, is much higher on him than other recruiting services. In the most recent On300 rankings, he was tabbed as the country’s No. 71 prospect, No. 5 linebacker and No. 6 player in the Yellowhammer State.