Auburn Buck Joe Phillips on DJ Durkin: 'He's the coach I can say I wanted'

AUBURN – Freshman Buck linebacker Joe Phillips was one of a few early enrollees who took part in the bowl practices before spring. Those few practices got him mentally prepared for college football.

“The bowl practice helped me a lot due to seeing how many periods we have, how big everybody is,” Phillips said. “The contact we got in the bowl practice is sort of similar to what we’re doing now. It prepared me.”

Phillips, who is always honest and open about everything dating back to his recruiting days, was honest about his mindset going into Auburn. He says playing time was an important factor for him before seeing what things were actually like. Now he knows there is a particular process that must take place.

“I would say at first I was (concerned with playing early), but now I know it is a learning process,” Phillips said. “Coming from high school, you always think, ‘Oh, I can do this.’ Watching J-Mac, you think you can do that easily. But, I promise you that college is a whole different ball game. I am still trying to get on the field, of course, but you never know what can happen.”

Working at Buck

Phillips was never nailed down at one specific position. He was considered a front-seven athlete when Auburn signed him. Now, he is working in primarily at Buck. He likes his initial position.

“I like it, especially because I got a chance to follow Coach Aldridge, he was recruiting me at first anyway,” Phillips said. “The whole time during my recruiting process it was, ‘Do you want to play Buck or play inside.’ But, it is easier to learn, so I feel like I will have a chance to get on the field faster that way. IN the future, who knows, you never know I might still end up being a stand up backer.”

What has been the biggest challenge for Phillips so far?

“Probably the playbook, that would be the biggest thing,” Phillips said. “The first week, I came in and had to learn how to be a stand up backer. From high school, I didn’t know coverages or anything. Coach Durkin had to teach all of that. Then moving back to Coach Aldridge, they have a different side of the playbook as well. It was just harder and remembering it and relaying it to the field.”

Phillips has been pleasantly surprised with playing under DJ Durkin, Auburn’s defensive coordinator.

“He’s the coach I can say I wanted from high school,” Phillips said. “With my high school coach, we have a good family connection. I can say with Coach Durkin it is really the same way. You can hit him up, he will never not respond to you. Any problems, he will find the best way to talk through it. He’s a happy coach, he has good energy.”

Phillips learning from others

For his fellow freshmen edges, Jamonta Waller and Amaris Williams, Phillips sees them catching on quickly.

“I feel like it is coming really easy for them,” Phillips said. “Especially Amaris in a sense. I don’t know what type of school he comes from, but you can tell he’s got some football knowledge. Same thing with Jamonta as well, they already know certain things, so it helps them a lot trying to get on the field.”

What are Phillips’ best assets so far?

“For one I can run,” Phillips said. “Then I have a lot of upper body strength as well. The problem is putting it all together. You’ve got to know when to use your speed and power. But like I said as well having speed as a bigger lineman rushing from the outside is sort of hard to stop. Then if you turn your shoulders I can always beat you inside as well.”

Phillips is learning under McLeod, but more so is just thoroughly impressed with how good he is.

“To speak on Jalen (McLeod) specifically, he is a dog,” Phillips said. “Watching games last year, I wouldn’t say it was hard to see but you couldn’t really tell. Jalen is a dog. With him being that top caliber player, he is helping us too. With film, he will tell us to come in here and watch this. Surprisingly Keldric Faulk is the same way. He is not considered a Buck, but he is like an edge player. He knows what we’re supposed to be doing too.”

Phillips is ready to experience his first action in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“I’m excited, more so just to get a chance to see how it is just playing a down of college football,” Phillips said. “It’s not the real game, but it will be played like a real game. We will have the fans, the stadium may be packed out if the weather holds up. It will be a good experience.”