Kade Phillips finishes 2025 cycle as an On3 five-star, named No. 21 overall prospect
2025 Missouri City (Texas) Hightower cornerback and Texas early enrollee Kade Phillips retained his five-star status and was named the No. 21 overall prospect in the final 2025 On300 released on Thursday. Phillips was previously the No. 23 overall recruit.
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He finishes as one of the top 10 players in Texas in the cycle.
Phillips committed to the Longhorns during the summer but flipped to LSU after the Tigers gave him a guarantee he would start his career at corner as opposed to the “defensive back” sell the Longhorns were providing. When Texas finally came around to cornerback, Phillips elected to return to the school he first committed to.
Phillips is an early enrollee and listed by Texas at 6-foot-1, 178 pounds.
Here’s what On3’s Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power had to say about Phillips in his scouting report.
“One of the top physical talents at cornerback in the 2025 cycle with unique dimensions, athleticism and ball skills. Measured in at 6-foot-0.5, 180 pounds with elite length (33.5-inch arms) and massive 10.5-inch hands. A top track athlete who was a state finalist in the long jump as a junior. Shows his high-end physical traits on Friday nights. A two-way standout for his high school team, lining up at wide receiver and corner. Shows excellent ball skills, coming down with contested catches with regularity. The ball skills manifest in high end ball production with several receiving touchdowns and interceptions as a senior. Able to stay in phase and uses his burst to close cushions quickly. Draws on his experience as a safety to provide a physical presence in run support. Will need to continue adding technical polish to his cover skills. Owns one of the highest upsides at cornerback in the 2025 cycle.”
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Inside Texas’ evaluation
Strengths — A track sprinter with adequate height and room to add bulk. Most highlights are at safety with both single-high and two-high looks. Shows good acceleration once he diagnoses the play. Looks fairly instinctive for the safety position. Some good highlights showing an understanding of trips coverage. Comes downhill and fits the run willingly. Top-end speed is above average. Range appears adequate from the single-high position.
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Areas for improvement — Will get tentative at times and will have to catch the ball carrier and go for a ride. Ball skills are a bit unknown as most of highlights are against run and screen game. Gets flat-footed at times and will deliver glancing blows with the shoulder rather than squaring up and taking on the ball carrier. A lot of diving for ankles on the highlights. Unclear if he has good enough agility/hips to play corner.
