By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
Could wide receiver Cam Phillips save the Buffalo Bills’ woeful wideout room?
Probably not.
But he is some fresh blood in a Bills unit that could use an injection of life. Phillips impressed in training camp, but remained relatively quiet during the preseason since he had a hard time finding the field due to injury.
With that, here are five things to know about Phillips:
Success at all previous levels
He still has plenty to prove in the NFL, but he was pretty successful at all prior levels he played in. At the college level, Phillips had a big senior season with Virginia Tech. He hauled in 71 passes for 962 yards and seven touchdowns. That earned him first-team, All-ACC honors. In high school in Maryland, he was named the state’s Offensive Player of the Year, notching 1,233 yards of offense and 15 scores.
Fashion guy
NBA players are known more for their fashion, pre-game. NFL players do it, too. Phillips was one of those fashion guys in college. At the ACC preseason media day last season, Phillips wore a bronze, double-breasted velvet jacket a round flip-up sunglasses.
“I just like to have fun with stuff like this,” Phillips said that day. “I think it’s a way to show my personality, show fans and other players I’m a laid-back and cool, fun guy. I’m having a great time at this event.”
A classic and unique trait
It’s still not clear if Phillips will make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. To make room for him, the Bills cut wide receiver Robert Foster, who did suit up every game this season for the Bills, so Phillips could be on the field. When he is, there’s two things that will go through his head first. One is a classic Tim Tebow motto. He credits the line: “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard,” as the best advice he’s ever received.
So the unique trail? At some point pregame, Phillips will take off his cleats after warm-ups and walk up the tunnel and view the field. That’s different.
No combine, no problem
Phillips comes to the Bills via an undrafted rookie free agent contract. He fell in the 2018 NFL Draft to undrafted status for a few reasons. First, Phillips is undersized at about 6-feet, 200-pounds. Still, in training camp he found a knack for getting open.
Additionally, Phillips had sports hernia surgery after his Virgina Tech career was over. He was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, but couldn’t participate. His Pro Day 40-time of 4.79 didn’t help, either.
High football IQ
Without speed or size, what makes Phillips an NFL player? His football IQ. During training camp, The Athletic wrote that Phillips would help NFL veterans learn the playbook while Phillip was sideline with an injury. Even Tremaine Edmunds, his former college teammate, stuck his neck out for him. “If you just have a conversation with him you can tell that he understands football. That’s an advantage for him. Just have a conversation with him and you can see his football knowledge,” Edmunds said.