Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Sunday Sidebar: Philips Cements Legacy
11/5/2017 12:37:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Following another double-digit receiving effort by a player who began his Orange career as a running back, Syracuse now has a new leader in career receptions: senior Ervin Philips.
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On second-and-2 at the Syracuse 19-yard line, Philips hauled in a 10-yard pass from quarterback Eric Dungey for his 202nd career catch. It was his seventh reception of the day and moved him past Alec Lemon (201) and into first place on the Orange's all-time list. But Philips didn't stop there. He made five more receptions to finish the game with 12 catches for 107 yards against the Seminoles.
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For Philips, it was his second 100-yard receiving game of the season and the third time in 2017 he's made at least 10 catches in a game. He helped the Syracuse offense generate 463 total yards, the most by an FSU opponent this season.
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In 2014, Philips a product of West Haven, Conn., came to Syracuse as a running back. The next year he served as a hybrid running back/receiver. Philips changed positions again when Dino Babers took over the Orange in 2016. He moved to inside receiver full time and the results have spoken for themselves. After carding 44 receptions his first two years, Philips has 163 in 21 games the past two seasons, an average of 7.8 per game.
Through nine outings in 2017, Philips is third in the FBS in receptions per game (8.1) and fourth in total catches (73). He has particularly excelled in conference play, averaging 100.2 yards per game versus ACC foes compared to 58 yards a game in non-league action.
Yesterday, wasn't the first time this season Philips has etched his name in the record books. Against NC State, he set the ACC and Syracuse program records for most receptions in a game by making 17 catches against the Wolfpack.
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With three games remaining in the regular season, Philips and classmate Steve Ishmael are dueling to break to yet another receiving record: the Syracuse single-season mark of 94 receptions set last year by Amba Etta-Tawo. Ishmael needs 17 catches to overtake Etta-Tawo, while Philips needs 22.
"It's always great to leave a legacy," Philips said during preseason camp. "Those records, they're big. They're huge. But they'll come when they come. I'll get them when I'm supposed to get them."
On Saturday at Florida State it was his time.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).Â
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On second-and-2 at the Syracuse 19-yard line, Philips hauled in a 10-yard pass from quarterback Eric Dungey for his 202nd career catch. It was his seventh reception of the day and moved him past Alec Lemon (201) and into first place on the Orange's all-time list. But Philips didn't stop there. He made five more receptions to finish the game with 12 catches for 107 yards against the Seminoles.
Â
For Philips, it was his second 100-yard receiving game of the season and the third time in 2017 he's made at least 10 catches in a game. He helped the Syracuse offense generate 463 total yards, the most by an FSU opponent this season.
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In 2014, Philips a product of West Haven, Conn., came to Syracuse as a running back. The next year he served as a hybrid running back/receiver. Philips changed positions again when Dino Babers took over the Orange in 2016. He moved to inside receiver full time and the results have spoken for themselves. After carding 44 receptions his first two years, Philips has 163 in 21 games the past two seasons, an average of 7.8 per game.
Through nine outings in 2017, Philips is third in the FBS in receptions per game (8.1) and fourth in total catches (73). He has particularly excelled in conference play, averaging 100.2 yards per game versus ACC foes compared to 58 yards a game in non-league action.
Yesterday, wasn't the first time this season Philips has etched his name in the record books. Against NC State, he set the ACC and Syracuse program records for most receptions in a game by making 17 catches against the Wolfpack.
Â
With three games remaining in the regular season, Philips and classmate Steve Ishmael are dueling to break to yet another receiving record: the Syracuse single-season mark of 94 receptions set last year by Amba Etta-Tawo. Ishmael needs 17 catches to overtake Etta-Tawo, while Philips needs 22.
"It's always great to leave a legacy," Philips said during preseason camp. "Those records, they're big. They're huge. But they'll come when they come. I'll get them when I'm supposed to get them."
On Saturday at Florida State it was his time.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).Â
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