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Giants Select Phillips, Extending UM's Streak
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Published: April 27, 2008
MIAMI The University of Miami's record run of having at least one first-round draft pick has survived - barely.
Safety Kenny Phillips was the 31st and final pick in Saturday's opening round of the NFL draft, going to the Giants and giving the Hurricanes a first-round selection for the 14th consecutive year.
"I think it worked out for the best," Phillips said. "I am going to a great organization and a team that just won the Super Bowl, so it's definitely exciting. I haven't been to New York before, but it is my new home."
The streak began with Warren Sapp going 12th overall to the Bucs in 1995, and 33 more Hurricanes have been selected in the opening round since. It has been tested in recent years - Kelly Jennings wasn't picked until No. 31 by Seattle in 2006 - and many draftniks predicted the run would end this year.
But the reigning Super Bowl champions targeted Phillips, whose name was called 361/27 hours into the draft.
"I'm very relieved and very excited for Kenny and his family," Miami coach Randy Shannon said after Phillips' pick was announced. "You know, I recruited Kenny to the University of Miami. I know what kind of person he is and how hard he's worked. He's a very, very good person, and Kenny and his family deserve this."
Phillips started 33 games with the Hurricanes, including all 12 this past season at free safety. He finished his career with 203 tackles, including 15 for losses, and he intercepted seven passes, forced three fumbles and recovered another.
"I was waiting around, just being patient," Phillips said. "I got tired of sitting in the room. It got kind of hot, so I walked around to clear my mind, and I got the call."
Phillips got word from the Giants about five minutes before the selection was announced. He and about 60 friends and relatives were eagerly awaiting word at a draft party in Miami Beach, and when the news officially came across their television screens, the reaction was predictably exuberant.
"Wow. Tears of joy," said Kenny Phillips Sr., the player's father. "It's a wonderful feeling. I don't think I could be more excited. This is what he's always wanted."
Phillips left Miami after his junior season, saying he believed the time was right for the NFL. He's a Miami native and was projected as a top-10 pick before last season. But the combination of less-than-stellar stats in his junior season and Miami's dismal 5-7 record last fall might have hurt his stock - just not enough to keep the Hurricanes out of the first round.
"It's real good to be drafted in the first round to keep the streak alive," Phillips said.
Shannon wasn't surprised New York was the team that ultimately decided on Phillips.
"I thought the Giants would be the one team if he was going to get drafted in the first round," Shannon said.
Shannon called Phillips Saturday morning, telling him to relax and enjoy the anxiety-filled day as much as possible.
"He'll be a fine fit in New York," Shannon said. "Kenny's laid-back. He's not flamboyant. He'll play the game and do whatever it takes to help the Giants win games."
Several other Hurricanes were expecting to hear their names called in the coming rounds, and defensive end Calais Campbell (who, like Phillips, skipped his senior season to turn pro) was selected by the Cardinals in Round 2 (50th overall).
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