Phillips, Smoot Impress at Senior Bowl Practices
January 27, 2017 | Football
Defensive duo will play in senior showcase game on Saturday (1:30 pm CT on @NFLNetwork)
Fighting Illini pass rushers Carroll Phillips and Dawuane Smoot will represent the Fighting Illini in the 68th edition of the Reese's Senior Bowl on Saturday. The game will be played on Jan. 28 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Both players will suit up for the North roster, coached by the Chicago Bears head coach John Fox and the Bears coaching staff. While both Phillips and Smoot played defensive end for the Illini in 2016, they're both practicing as rush linebackers at the Senior Bowl.
DE/LB Carroll Phillips » Phillips, measuring 6-3, 240, had a monster senior season, earning first team All-Big Ten honors, the first Illini to do so since 2011, after racking up 56 tackles, 20.0 TFLs, 9.0 sacks, 3 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. He ranked sixth in FBS in TFLs per game (1.7) and his 20.0 TFLs tied for the fifth-most in a season in Illinois history.
DE/LB Dawuane Smoot » Smoot, a 6-3, 255-pound defensive end for the Illini, posted 56 tackles, 15.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, 10 QB hurries, one PBU, two forced fumbles in 2016 to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors. He finished his UI career ranked sixth in program history in career TFLs (38.5) and eighth in career sacks (16.5).
Two Illini played in last year's senior bowl – DL Jihad Ward (currently with the Raiders) and WR Geronimo Allison (currently with the Packers). In addition, three Illini took part in last week's East West Shrine Game – QB Wes Lunt, LB Hardy Nickerson and DT Chunky Clements (Clements was injured and didn't play in the game).
Hard at work, these boys from Illinois. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/35DJ4jeC6Y
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 24, 2017
.@BigSmoot_91 & @_Wildman6 can make plays, & the ex-@IlliniFootball stars did it on Day 1 of @seniorbowl practice. https://t.co/k7Dgw6TOVH
— Illinois on BTN (@IllinoisOnBTN) January 25, 2017
Here's what to know from today's first practices of Senior Bowl week.
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) January 25, 2017
??: https://t.co/OmtkYTCTS9 pic.twitter.com/BSXeWehNYb
#SeniorBowl North Day 1 Practice Notes posted. #Illinois EDGE Carroll Phillips, #Indiana OG Dan Feeney Impressed: https://t.co/LEjlLlJF9C pic.twitter.com/hdIMX74CuY
— Eric Galko (@OptimumScouting) January 24, 2017
Carroll Phillips w/the nice pass breakup vs. Mike Roberts. #seniorbowl pic.twitter.com/a9lADFcSG9
— Luke Easterling (@LukeEasterling) January 25, 2017
Thanks God for everything and the senior bowl staff for the opportunity to show case my talent!! pic.twitter.com/sC2kAqVHsu
— Carroll Phillips (@_Wildman6) January 26, 2017
Had a great practice today thanks to #seniorbowl I was able to showcase my talent!!! Thanks.
— Dawuane Smoot (@BigSmoot_91) January 26, 2017
Carroll Phillips @IlliniFootball was most explosive LB once the pads went on leading LBs both days in explosion @CatapultSports @RosterWatch
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) January 27, 2017
Not surprised to see @_Wildman6 & @BigSmoot_91 turning heads at the @seniorbowl.
— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) January 26, 2017
They were monsters all year for the ??&??. #Illini ?? pic.twitter.com/zsahAKmYVo
