2021 Draft Profiles: Jaelan Phillips

The Dolphins used their own first-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft on University of Miami edge defender Jaelan Phillips.

- ALAIN POUPART

Round: 1 (18th overall) • Position: LB • Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 266 • College: Miami (Fla.)

While Phillips played defensive end at the University of Miami, the Dolphins listed him as a linebacker, and that would make him the first linebacker the Dolphins selected in the first round since 1992 when they used the 12th overall selection on Georgia Tech’s Marco Coleman, who also was more of an edge defender than a pure linebacker.

College Career:

• Phillips arrived at UCLA in 2017 as one of the most heralded recruits in the country and started four games as a true freshman, though he was slowed by an ankle injury and a concussion.

• His sophomore season was disrupted by a wrist injury sustained when he was hit by a car while on a scooter and another concussion.

• UCLA announced during the 2018 season that Phillips had retired from football, though Phillips enrolled at the University of Miami in 2019.

• After sitting out a year per NCAA transfer rules, Phillips made an immediate impact for the Hurricanes, finishing the 2020 season with eight sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss.

• Phillips recorded his first career interception against Florida State and his first unassisted sack against Clemson when he took down 2021 first overall pick Trevor Lawrence.

• Recorded 2.5 sacks in consecutive games, first against Virginia Tech and then against Duke.

• He teamed with cornerback Darnay Holmes in 2017 as the first pair of UCLA true freshmen to start a season opener.

• Phillips decided to sit out UM’s bowl game against Oklahoma State.

College Honors: