UCLA Commit Jaelan Phillips Selected as Defensive Player of the Year at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee has selected UCLA commit Jaelan Phillips as the 2017 American Family Insurance Defensive Player of the Year. The award is given annually to the nation’s most outstanding high school defensive player in the country. The announcement was made at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Awards Show last night in San Antonio prior to today’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Phillips set career-highs of 142 tackles and 21 sacks - including seven sacks in one game this season. He also scored two touchdowns, one on an interception return and the other on a punt return. He was named California Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today and was selected as one of six finalists for the 2017 U.S. Army Player of the Year.

This is the seventh year for the American Family Insurance Defensive Player of the Year Award. Past winners include Washington Redskins rookie Kendall Fuller and Georgia Bulldogs freshman Trenton Thompson.

The 17th Annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl will be played this morning. Many players who remain uncommitted will announce there college decisions at during the course of the game. While Phillips is a solid Bruin commit, one player who is scheduled to announce his commitment at the game is Darnay Holmes of Calabasas High who is down to UCLA and Ohio State.

Here’s how to watch.

The 17th Annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl

Where: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX

When: 10 am PT, Saturday, January 7, 2017

TV: NBC

Live Stream: NBCSports.com


This is also your U.S. Army All-American Bowl open thread.

Go Bruins!