Four Orange Sign NFL Free-Agent Contracts

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse wide receivers Ervin Philips, Steve Ishmael, offensive lineman Jamar McGloster and linebacker Parris Bennett signed free-agent contracts with NFL teams on Saturday, April 28.

Philips signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ishmael agreed to terms with the Indianapolis Colts. McGloster inked with the San Francisco 49ers and Bennett signed with the Green Bay Packers.

Philips and Ishmael made up the most productive pass-catching duo in Orange history. Philips finished his career first all-time at Syracuse with 223 receptions. Ishmael is second with 219. In 2017, they combined 194 catches, the most ever by a set of ACC teammates.

Philips is the only player in program history with 2,000 receiving yards and 500 rushing yards. In 45 career games for the Orange, Philips racked up 2,069 yards worth of receptions, while also rushing 103 times for 522 yards. He scored 20 career touchdowns (15 receiving, 5 rushing).

In 2017, Philips made 89 receptions for 904 yards and four touchdowns on his way to All-ACC Second Team honors. He tied for fifth in the FBS in receptions per game (7.4) and ranked seventh nationally in catches.

In Tampa Bay, Philips reunites with former Orange teammate linebacker Cameron Lynch. An undrafted free agent himself, Lynch has played in 23 games for the Buccaneers over the past two seasons.

Ishmael joins Syracuse teammate Zaire Franklin in Indianapolis. Earlier Saturday, the Colts made Franklin the 235th pick in the NFL Draft when they selected him in the seventh round.

Named to nine All-America teams in 2017, Ishmael set the Orange single-season record with 105 catches for 1,347 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He was second nationally in both receptions and receptions per game (8.8), and ranked fourth in the FBS in receiving yards per game (112.2). Ishmael posted a school-record eight 100-yard receiving games and tallied at least 70 yards receiving in 10 out of 12 contests.

For his career, Ishmael played in 47 out of a possible 48 games (39 starts) and finished as the program's all-time leader in receiving yardage (2,891).

McGloster appeared in 30 games during his Syracuse career. He started 24 straight games at right tackle from 2016-17.

As a senior last fall, McGloster was second on the team with 1,034 snaps played. He tallied 12 knockdown blocks and aided a Syracuse offense that ranked third in the ACC in total offense (456.3 ypg) and second in passing (294.8 ypg). Following the season, McGloster earned an invitation to the 2018 East-West Shrine Game.

Like McGloster, Bennett was also invited to the East-West Shrine Game after his senior season. A three-year starter, Bennett led the Orange with 115 tackles in 2017 and earned All-ACC Second Team honors from both the conference and the Associated Press.

In addition to topping the Orange tackle chart, Bennett carded a team-best 11 tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups and one forced fumble this past season. He logged six double-digit tackle games and tied for third in the conference in tackles per game (9.6).

In 40 career games from 2014-17, Bennett amassed 273 tackles, including 22 for a loss, seven passes defended and four forced fumbles.

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Syracuse University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Parris Bennett

Zaire Franklin

Steve Ishmael

Cameron Lynch

Jamar McGloster

Ervin Philips

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