Personal Statement

I’m Jack Phillips, a 17-year-old junior in high school and a two-year varsity defensive end. My football journey began in first grade, and I’ve been playing at various levels ever since.

As a third grader, I joined my local Optimist club for tackle football. Our team, known as The Bears, faced defeat in my first year. However, it was during that season that I discovered my love for football. The following year, a couple of dedicated dads on the team scouted out two exceptional coaches. Under their guidance, we transformed into The Texans and went undefeated. Our dominant performance led to our departure from the Optimist league.

In the subsequent season, we joined a highly competitive league as an all-5th-grade team. Our opponents spanned various age and grade levels, from 5th to 7th grade. Despite the challenge, we finished with a respectable 3-4-1 record, proving that I could hold my own against top players in the area.

The winning streak continued into the next season, and we clinched the city championship for the second year in a row. Those pee wee football memories remain some of my favorites, especially since I played alongside my identical twin brother throughout.

Transitioning to 7th grade, I left behind a conservative Christian school and enrolled in the highly regarded Bailey Middle School. My brother and I both made the A team, starting on both offensive and defensive lines. Little did we know that the COVID pandemic would soon impact the world.

Despite the challenges, our school managed to have football during 8th grade, albeit with social distancing guidelines in place. We also grappled with players being sidelined due to COVID symptoms. Junior high was crazy!

Entering high school as a 9th grader, I longed for a return to normalcy. My brother and I secured spots on the starting defensive line once again. However, we faced a tough decision: offense or defense? We both chose defense, and our team performed exceptionally well. If there had been playoffs in 9th grade, I believe we would have made a deep run in the state tournament.

10th grade brought a significant milestone—I was selected as one of the few sophomores to play on the varsity team. It was a moment of immense pride. Unfortunately, my brother didn’t make varsity, but we continued to share our passion for the game.

As I prepare for my senior year of high school I know college football is in the cards. I am also exploring careers and industries that align with my academic strengths and person interests. My goals are becoming clear: play college foootball while earn a degree in Petroleum/Electrical engineering from an ABET accredited program. I wish to perform both goals at the highest levels possible. I hope my football skills translate into a top collegiate program and academically I want hands-on learning from top professors.