Players to Watch: No. 18 Stanford vs. Arizona
By Kody Acevedo
Sep 12, 2015; Reno, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats slot receiver Nate Phillips (6) runs for a first down as Nevada Wolf Pack (26) defensive back Kendall Johnson (26) makes the stop in the first quarter of their NCAA football game at MacKay Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
Nate Phillips is in the middle of a comeback journey.
The junior out of Chandler, AZ had a hugely successful freshman season as a wide receiver for the Wildcats, but things slowly collapsed last year after he was forced to miss five games due to in-season foot surgery. After that, he was sidelined again during the offseason because of a shoulder surgery.
Phillips is capable of being a star among the crowded group of talented receivers Arizona has, including Cayleb Jones and David Richards. In 2013, Phillips led the Wildcats in receiving with 696 yards and seven touchdowns. During the AdvoCare V100 Bowl that season, Phillips had nine catches for 193 yards in Arizona’s 42-19 win over Boston College.
Last season, those numbers declined. Phillips finished the year with just 272 receiving yards and two touchdowns in nine games. He might be one of the most underrated wide receivers in the Pac-12 this season.
So far, he’s racked up 13 receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns.