NCAA Canadian profile: Tyreek Phillips, Furman University (Brampton, ON)

Over the next few months CFC will be profiling Canadians playing in the NCAA. CFC tracks all Canadian action south of the border and at the end of the year will update our ‘Canadians in US College’ list.

To check out the list of players that played in the NCAA / NAIA in 2009 please click here.

Check out the bottom of each article for links to other Canadian NCAA player articles.

Today’s Profile:
Tyreek Phillips
Defensive Line
Furman (FCS)
Freshmen
Brampton, ON
St. Marguerite d’Youville / Avondale, GA., HS

1) For those Canadians who do not already know, talk a little bit about how you got to where you are right now.

I had the opportunity to go down to Atlanta for my senior year of high school. I did well my senior year but didn’t have an offer up until my last game of the season. It’s a funny story because my last game was played against the state runner up’s and there coach is the brother of my coach now. I had an amazing game and word passed along and here I am now at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.

2) What is the best thing about playing NCAA Football? What is the most challenging thing?

The best thing about playing NCAA football is the friends and family you gain. Down here the whole team does everything to together and it really is like one big family. Also, the fact that I don’t have to pay for a great education is really good as well. The most challenging thing is the hard work you have to put in both on the field and in the classroom. During the week you really do not have time for anything other than football practice, meetings, weights, class, and studying. Another challenging thing is that everyday you’re on that field it is a battle for your position. At any time the coaches do not feel like you’re giving it your all, they will just move you back and use the next guy in line.

3) What is your biggest individual goal for 2010 season? Team goal?

My biggest goal for the 2010 season is to get in better shape, fast, stronger, and just better in my fundamentals. By doing all of that I will be able to help the team to the best of my abilities. The team goal this season is to win the conference and make the playoffs and see where the season takes us from there.

4) What is something that people should know about you?

I think some people feel that I got this by luck. If you know anyone that really knows me then they will tell you that I worked hard to get where I am; both in the classroom and football field. I can be found at a gym at any time of the day, trying to bring all my friends with me or on the football field doing drills and sprints when others are chilling. I try to keep those back home that feel I did this by luck in the back of my head when I feel like I can’t do one more rep or one more sprint.

5) What advice do you have to young football players in Canada?

The best advice I can give to young football players in Canada is to remember that when you’re sleeping others are working somewhere out there. Someone in some other city, some other province, is working to get that scholarship that you want. So always put in work and don’t let anything stop you. Get your film from your games and send them to more than schools than you can imagine; even schools you don’t want to go to because you never know who might end up with them. Attend all the summer football camps you can because that’s where coaches get the real looks from. Also I want to leave them with one quote I see almost every day in my locker room which pushes me to continue to work hard: “There is a difference between commitment and interest. When you interested in doing something you only do it when the time is right, but when you’re committed to something, you don’t except excuses only RESULTS”.

Past Articles

Jacob Ruby OL, Richmond (London, ON)

Campbell Allison OL, Eastern Michigan (Kemptville, ON)

Jerome Miller RB, Missouri S & T (Toronto)

Philip Blake OL, Baylor (Toronto)

Marco Iannuzzi REC, Harvard University (Calgary)

George Pearkes TE, Duke University (Nelson, BC)

John Bender OL, Nevada (Cochrane, AB)

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