“He was 198 pounds,” McCarney said. “I asked him if he played safety and he said, ‘No, I’m a linebacker.’ I told him, ‘You don’t look like it. I hope you play like it.’”

Phillips always has played like it, and now looks the part after focusing on developing his body in UNT’s off-season strength and conditioning program.

Phillips checked in at 226 pounds this fall, making him perhaps the best example of the progress UNT’s players have made physically over the last few months. UNT’s coaching staff and players hope that development will make a big difference on the field this fall.

http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/...season.ece