Dru Phillips Details Exhaustive NFL Draft Process

Dru Phillips last suited up for the Kentucky Wildcats on December 29. Nearly four months later, he’s preparing to hear his name called in the NFL Draft.

Four months is a long time. NFL Draft prospects don’t just sit around and wait to be selected. It’s an exhaustive process, one Phillips was kind enough to detail this week on 11 Personnel.

“You got the (NFL) Combine and I was lucky enough to be invited to the Senior Bowl,” Phillips said. “Those are really good opportunities, but at the same time, it’s something you have to go to and you gotta do good, or else they’re going to drop your whole stock. There’s a lot of pressure. It’s good competition, you just have to be locked in and consistent.”

Phillips thrived in those high-pressure situations. That’s a big reason why the corner/nickelback is considered as high as a second round pick, despite never recording an interception during his time at Kentucky.

What Happens at a Top 30 Visit?

Those showcases occur during the first half of the pre-Draft process. Following Pro Day, prospects are invited to tour NFL facilities at Top 30 visits. Each franchise is allowed to host 30 draft-eligible prospects. They seem to be important, even though we’re not entirely sure what actually happens during them. Thankfully, we know a guy who can enlighten us.

“Think about it as an official visit in high school. It’s literally like the same thing, but now you’re going to the NFL. You don’t pick them. They pick you. You’re going to dinner with these organizations, you’re hanging out with ’em, meeting everyone in the building, meeting with the GMs and coaches,” the former Wildcat shared.

“You’re talking ball, but they’re really trying to figure out who you are, if you’re going to be a good fit. It’s really dead like a high school official visit.”

Not all Top 30 visits are created equally. For some, he was the only player in the building. Other times he was with a large group of players, meeting with individuals all around the building. The teams keep the players busy. He shared one stop with Trevin Wallace, but couldn’t even carve out the time to say Hi to his Kentucky teammate. These visits also feature significantly less flare than the ones players take coming out of high school.

“They’re testing us instead of giving us balloons,” he laughed. “They’re trying to see what we’re going to do.”

What exactly is Phillips going to do on Sundays? His pitch to NFL organizations isn’t too complex.

“You’re going to get a versatile player that wants to get in there and win a Super Bowl. I don’t have personal goals as of right now. I just want to get in there and contribute to go win. I’m going to be the most versatile and physical cornerback on that field.”

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Phillips Believes in Chris Collins, Jantzen Dunn

The entire interview wasn’t exclusively focused on his future. We talked about his favorite memories at Kentucky and that time he jumped over a car. We also discussed the future of the Kentucky secondary and the player who’s expected to fill his role next fall, Jantzen Dunn.

“When he came to Kentucky, it’s been night and day. If you go through the whole last year, he’s taken this game seriously, he’s taken those steps and by the time I left, it was like — I felt sometimes at the end of the season I was worried they may put him in for me at nickel,” Phillips admitted.

“This kid’s a baller. He has everything I have but also adds so much more. He has way better ball skills than I do. He’s going to be a dog. I’m excited to see him. He’s also that type of competitor, I can see it in him. He doesn’t want to lose anything. He gets sick, almost like how I was whenever I lose a rep, I’m mad. He’s the same exact way.”

Dunn took significant steps forward in spring practice. We saw a similar rise last offseason from Max Hairston, who went from a guy who never saw the field to the SEC’s leader in interceptions. The man behind that development is Chris Collins. Phillips credits the Kentucky cornerbacks coach for taking his game to the next level.

“He’s different from most because he acts like a teacher. He’s a teacher in the classroom, but when we’re on the field he’s an enforcer. He will hold people accountable… He really helped me develop my game in the classroom because of how knowledgeable he is and how open he is, he’ll share what he knows about the game, about offenses, and also about the position of defensive back. It’s that, along with the accountability and it makes for a great room.”