LOOK: Georgia commit Dwight Phillips shows blazing speed in 100-meter
Georgia commit Dwight Phillips Jr. comes from an athletic family. His father, Dwight Phillips Sr., is a four-time world champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the long jump. As just a junior in high school, the younger Phillips is already showing off what he can do too.
Phillips posted a 10.29 in the 100-meter on Saturday. On3’s Jeremy Johnson was on hand to see it. To put into perspective that kind of speed, it’s a faster high school time than wide receiver Arian Smith who has competed for USA Track and Field in the past and ran collegiately in 2021 as a part of Georgia’s 4×100 relay team that finished second in the NCAA outdoor meet with a school-record time.
Phillips committed to Georgia in late January as a part of the Bulldogs’ No. 1 ranked Class of 2024. He chose UGA during a visit over offers from the likes of Auburn, Louisville and North Carolina – all of whom held at least a 10% chance to get his commitment according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine – among others. Once listed as an athlete according to On3, Phillips is expected to play running back at Georgia and his profile reflects that now as the nation’s No. 82 overall player and No. 6 running back according t the On3 Industry Ranking.
“Just the coaching staff,” Phillips said in an interview with On3’s Hayes Fawcett as one of the reasons he chose Georgia. “They are the best coaching staff in the country and I feel like coach McGhee can develop me as a person, in football and outside of football. They are the best in the country and I wanna be a part of it.”
“They plan on using me as a running back but putting me at slot and wideout,” Phillips added. “It means everything. I was just thinking , ‘Why not just stay at home and build your legacy?’”
Georgia has 10 commits in the Class of 2024, seven of whom rank in the top 100 according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. The On3 Industry Ranking weights the primary recruiting media services based on past performance data and overall scouting and recruiting coverage investment. The algorithm is weighted as follows: On3 (35%), 247Sports (35%), Rivals.com (20%), and ESPN (10%).
Five-star Ellis Robinson comes in as the No. 4 overall player and No. 1 cornerback. He’s one of two players currently committed to Georgia that ranks tops at their position alongside tight end Landen Thomas, the No. 22 overall player. Demarcus Riddick, Peyton Woodyard and Jaylen Heyward – all of the defensive side of the ball – crack the top-50 at No. 35, 36 and 44 nationally while Ny Carr and Phillips join Thomas and give Georgia talent on the offensive side too. Don’t forget about quarterback commit Ryan Puglisi either, the nation’s No. 7 quarterback according to On3, or wide receiver Sacovie White. Athlete Demello Jones of Swainsboro, Ga. joined the class on Friday, ranked No. 156 overall and No. 7 among players in his position group. He is expected to play cornerback at Georgia.
