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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Utes open up its season against visiting opponent Idaho State Thursday. And although little is predictable about the season, it is sophomore Andy Phillips who looks to resume his dominant kicking role for the team.
Phillips walked onto the team in 2013, coming from a completely different sport — skiing — in hopes of helping Utah in its special teams role; a role he didn’t really understand.
“It was a very intimidating process, to be honest with you,” Phillips said. “I came in not really knowing what to expect. I knew of myself that I had the mental and physical needs to be a good kicker, but I wasn’t really sure what to expect.”
Despite not knowing what to expect, Phillips earned the starting role and had a great season, making 17 of the team’s 20 field goal attempts and all 41 PATs.
Now, a year past and a near perfect kicking season behind him, Phillips stands as a scholarshipped kicker and team captain for the University of Utah as one of the most consistent athletes on the team.
With last season being so effective, Phillips said he’s looking for a season of “perfection” now. In the offseason, Phillips spent much of his time improving his kicking game by working out in the gym, getting stronger and molding a new strength program for other special teams athletes.
It was a very intimidating process, to be honest with you. I came in not really knowing what to expect. I knew of myself that I had the mental and physical needs to be a good kicker, but I wasn't really sure what to expect.
–Andy Phillips
“We’ve just tried to change the whole aspect to how we lift to make it so we’re a lot more explosive, a lot more powerful,” he said.
And that extra detail to the kicking game appears to have paid off so far in the offseason.
“His leg is stronger this year and has worked hard in the offseason,” head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “He’s got a little more range than he had last year.”
Phillips says in practice he’s hit from 59 yards, but just “messing around” he’s been able to kick it in from 70 yards out.
“I don’t count those because there’s no snap, no hold,” he said. “That’s just off the sticks and I’m just messing around.”
However, if given the chance to attempt a 60-plus yard kick in a game situation, Phillips said: “I would love it. I love being in those kind of situations.”
“Through my training, through skiing, through golf and everything I’ve done growing up, I think I’ve mentally trained myself to want those kind of situations instead of shy away from them,” he added.
While Phillips’ field goal kicking was a much-needed benefit for a struggling Utah team, Whittingham said he wants to see Phillips improve in the kickoff game.
“Andy can improve on his kickoffs, which he’s been working hard on this offseason,” Whittingham said. “We were not a very good kickoff unit last year, and a lot of it was due to the kicks going deeper and a little more hang time.”
Phillips has answered the call in the offseason and said he’s ready to do whatever the coaches want him to do.
“Whatever the coaches need me to do on kickoff,” he said. “Whether that’s boot it out of the end zone, whether that’s surprise onsides, whatever scheme it is, to just be able to adapt and be reliable.”
