We list Tony as an RB, but the senior has spent 2023 showing that he is a playmaker wherever you put him. His vision with the ball in his hands not only allow shim to quickly pick through the front seven as he finds seams to daylight, but also a dangerous kick returner. Phillips also has the ability to split out in the slot and give safeties and LBs a lot of trouble. His elite speed allows him to instantly pull away. Tony tracks the ball very well for an athlete who doesn’t primarily focus on the WR position. He also as impressive hands. The more ways you can find to get Tony the ball in space the better. I can’t wait to see what the high quality talent does in the playoffs.

The top uncommitted RB in the state of Illinois started off his senior season with a bang! Tony lives up to his Lightning nickname. His agility, change of direction, and burst are elite level traits. He could truly make anyone miss in a phone booth. His lower body is so explosive, and once he gets a seam his top end speed is impossible to chase down with a pursuit angle. The balance he plays with through the change of direction, and the hits he takes is special as well. Phillips is built to dominate out in space, and looks like the biggest mismatch that Illinois has to offer.

Tony is a special athlete. His quick twitch athleticism and top end speed are elite level traits. The way he can accelerate from a dead stop to top speed is rare. It happens in the blink of an eye. His balance and body control give him the ability to use that quick twitch athleticism within his lateral movements as well to jump cut and make defenders miss. Once Phillips hits the open field he can hit a second gear that is hard to catch. Tony also possesses solid vision to find seams to slip through, or cut back lanes to daylight. The Kankakee RB is a natural playmaker who has a knack for finding ways to make the big play. He is the best RB available in IL.

One of the most electric RBs in the Land of Lincoln, Kankakee speedster Tony Phillips Tony Phillips 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Kankakee | 2024 State IL Jr. has real-deal speed (10.54c 100M, 22.04 200M) and holds offers from Kent State, UNC-Charlotte, Arkansas, Alabama A&M, Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Campbell, UMass, Tennessee, Syracuse, and FAU. However the Tennessee and Syracuse offers came in 2021 and his Arkansas offer came in June of 2022, so things have been pretty quiet on the recruiting front in 2023 and Phillips Jr. hasn’t reported any visits or other recruiting news since March. The Kankakee High School and former Bishop McNamara standout’s senior tape is going to be of massive importance, and I could see some significant news coming out on his recruiting front this fall. There’s still some runway left in this recruitment, but Phillips Jr. is doing his part on the field, as the junior tape is filled with speed, burst, vision, sudden cuts, and did I mention speed? The kid can fly, and the track speed absolutely shows up on the gridiron, where he scoots by defenders and pursuers going all-out with seeming ease. He can take advantage of slight holes in a defense, and is capable of creating his own as well, and in addition to his burst I really enjoy his extra gear of pace when he he gets to the open field and is looking to pull away from defenders. The suddenness, quick feet, and balance are an added bonus. Someone is going to land a gamebreaker with rare speed to their RB room, but I think we have a little while until we figure out who.

It doesn’t get more explosive than the RB out of Kankakee. Tony “Lightning” Phillips brings elite speed to the field. He runs an outstanding 10.54 100M, and that speed easily translates to the field. When Tony sticks his foot in the ground and accelerates up field you better be right on his path or there is no catching him. Once in the open field Tony easily pulls away from the defense and erases pursuit angles. No question, Tony has D1 talent and explosiveness with the ball in his hands. Get him the rock on the edge or out in space and let him create the fireworks from there. Check out the highlights below.

Mr. Phillips is a transfer from Bishop McNamara that is one of the most electric ball carriers that we have in the state for the class of 2024. His burst through the hole paired with his lateral quickness to turn the corner make him a threat both on inside as well as outside the tackle runs. This all happens from his vison which he uses to find the running lanes quickly and can patiently wait for his lead blocker to get into open space before using his quick burst to gain a step on 2nd level defenders. Be sure to keep a close eye on this young man next fall as his P5 Offers are sure to climb and he’ll be a man on a mission as well. Twitter