L.J. Phillips Jr., RB, Iowa: 2027 NFL Draft Prospect Profile & Scouting Report
1. General Information
|
Name |
L.J. Phillips Jr. |
|
Position |
Running Back (RB) |
|
Number |
21 |
|
Class |
Senior |
|
School |
Iowa |
|
Height / Weight |
5’9″ / 225 lbs |
|
Hometown / HS |
Wichita, Kan. / Northwest HS |
2. Career Statistical Breakdown
Rushing & Receiving Stats
|
**Season** |
**Team** |
**G** |
**Att** |
**Yds** |
**Avg** |
**TD** |
**Rec** |
**Yds** |
**Avg** |
**TD** |
|
2023 |
South Dakota |
4 |
16 |
96 |
6.0 |
0 |
2 |
14 |
7.0 |
0 |
|
2024 |
South Dakota |
13 |
30 |
176 |
5.9 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
7.0 |
0 |
|
2025 |
South Dakota |
15 |
295 |
1,921 |
6.5 |
19 |
21 |
195 |
9.3 |
1 |
|
**Total** |
**32** |
**341** |
**2,193** |
**6.4** |
**20** |
**24** |
**216** |
**9.0** |
**1** |
Note: Stats reflect NCAA Division I FCS production with South Dakota. Phillips entered the transfer portal following the 2025 season to join the Iowa Hawkeyes.
3. NFL Combine Testing Projections
Projected metrics for the 2027 NFL Draft cycle based on athletic history and current developmental trajectory.
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.52 – 4.59s
- Vertical Jump: 34.5″ – 36.5″
- Broad Jump: 10’0″ – 10’4″
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.18 – 4.28s
- 3-Cone Drill: 6.95 – 7.10s
4. Scouting & Transfer Notes
Background Profile
Phillips arrives at the FBS Power Four level after scripting an absolute masterpiece of a breakout campaign in the FCS tier. Out of Northwest High School in Wichita, Kansas, he initially played a rotational reserve role through his first two seasons in Vermillion behind a veteran room. When his number was called as the primary option in 2025, he completely dominated FCS football, leading the entire country with an astronomical 1,921 rushing yards and scoring 19 times on the ground. Desiring to maximize his draft profile, the consensus First Team All-American packed up for Iowa City, stepping into Kirk Ferentz’s traditional, physical, zone-heavy scheme.
Key Strengths
- The Ultimate “Pitbull” Build: Built incredibly thick and compact at 5’9″ and 225 pounds, creating a remarkably low natural center of gravity that makes him a nightmare to wrap up in the hole.
- Elite Level Contact Balance: Operates as a premier tackle-breaking machine; absorbs heavy second-level collisions with ease and displays elite core strength to churn through arm tackles for massive post-contact extensions.
- Surgical Vision & Patience: Shows excellent maturity executing within tight interior spaces, letting pulling blocks completely materialize before pressing the lane and executing precise, north-south cuts.
- High-Volume Workhorse Durability: Handled a punishing 295-carry deployment during his All-American season while actually amplifying his per-touch efficiency (6.5 avg) late into deep postseason assignments.
Developmental Focus
While Phillips features true short-area explosion and standard bowling-ball physics, he is not a hyper-flexible, horizontal edge-bouncer or a dynamic threat to outrun pure angles in the deep secondary. Pro evaluators will spend the upcoming season closely monitoring how smoothly his physical, downhill layout adjusts to the raw speed, size, and interior defensive line discipline of Big Ten fronts, alongside refining his pass-protection assignments against advanced FBS blitz packages.
Draft Countdown Film Notes
*pending*
All-Star Game Notes
*pending*
Combine/Pro Day Measurables
*pending*