2015 Rivals250 DE recaps SEC visits

As the mail has come flooding in over the past few weeks, 2015 Rivals250 watch list defensive end Kyle Phillips found out there were schools interested that he didn't even know knew who he was.

"I've been getting a lot of stuff from a bunch of different schools," the Nashville (Tenn.) Hillsboro product said. "I got offers from schools I hadn't even heard from before Sept. 1."

Despite not having offered, Phillips said Mississippi State is the school showing the most interest.

"They've sent me the most stuff overall, even more than the school that have offered," Phillips said. "Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Ole Miss are also showing a lot of interest."

Phillips most recently visited Georgia for the Bulldogs game against South Carolina and said he enjoyed the experience.

"That was my first time there and I thought the atmosphere was great," he said. "Just like all the SEC games, they're big time."

Phillips said that even though the Georgia defense gave up quite a bit of yards, he was impressed with their every down effort.

"You can tell that everybody wanted that win and they played their hearts out," he said. "Everybody was hustling and they have an athletic defense, I like that."

Prior to his Georgia visit Phillips took in the Vanderbilt season-opener against Ole Miss.

"It was a great game that really could have gone either way," he said. "Two good teams but Ole Miss just had a little more and got the win."

Growing up in the Nashville area, Phillips has been to Vanderbilt games before, but said it was the most intense crowd he's ever seen.

"It was very different from games I've been to in the past," he said. "The crowd was into it the whole game. Totally different than when I used to go."

Even though he's been busy with his season, Phillips is hoping to get out and see more games in the future.

"Me and my mom have to talk about it and see which games we can get to," he said. "Tennessee is a school I really want to get to before the fall is over. Clemson is on that list, too. I just want to get out and see what everyone has to offer."

The Vols remain one of the main schools in the mix for Phillips and he said he's eager to see his first game in Knoxville.

"I've never been to a game there but they're pushing for me to get out there," he said. "Their defense the first two weeks was great. I see a lot of potential they just have to get the players that they need in their to get back o the level where they're winning championships. I still like Tennessee a lot."