Rivals250 DE Phillips recaps LSU official visit

Since bursting onto the recruiting scene as a sophomore, Class of 2015 Rivals250 Nashville (Tenn.) Hillsboro defensive end Kyle Phillips has been to a lot of football games. But he had never experienced quite the atmosphere as he did over the weekend during his official visit to LSU, where he witnessed the Tigers upset victory over Ole Miss.

"It's probably the best out there in terms of a game experience," Phillips said. "Just the way the stadium is set up, it's very loud and every energetic. It's one of the best game day atmospheres out there and I really liked it."

With defensive end as a position of need for the Tigers in the 2015 class, Phillips is a top priority for the LSU staff. He said he felt that way from the moment he stepped on campus Saturday.

"I really enjoyed getting to spend a lot of time with the coaches," he said. "They were with me all the time on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and they were saying there's a possibility that they lose three guys, two seniors and one junior, so it's a possibility for me to come in a play early. That was good to hear."

Phillips has been to LSU before, but said this trip really gave him a chance to take in the full experience.

"I got to see the campus and all the facilities," he said. "The campus is really nice, the facilities are really good and you can see why so many people like it there."

Phillips family, especially his mother, former Vanderbilt basketball player and assistant coach and current Tennessee State athletic director Teresa Phillips, are expected to have a big input into his decision. They escorted him on the trip and Phillips said they were also impressed.

"It was really good to have my family come down with me and have them be comfortable with the environment and everything," he said. "My mom loved it. She loved the coaches and the environment. She really liked it, she really enjoyed the visit and I think she's sold on LSU. She asked the tough questions and she liked what she heard."

The only downside of the trip was the nine-hour drive each way, but Phillips said distance won't be a factor in his decision.

"The distance is a problem but it's not too bad," he said. "Any college you go to you're going to be away from home so it's going to be an adjustment. It's going to be fine. I'm not too much worried about the distance, my family might be but they will be supportive no matter where I go."

While Phillips declined to call LSU his leader after the visit, he did say he has a lot think about, especially when comparing it to his official visit to Ole Miss earlier in the month.

"They both were really good and I really enjoyed both trips," he said. "I got to spend a lot of time with the players and coaches, and the games were amazing. It's just really tough now, seeing both schools and looking at the campuses. It's going to be really tough to make a decision."

Before he makes his choice Phillips said he will take at least two more official visits, if not three.

"I think I'm going to go to Alabama and I will go to Tennessee definitely," he said. "I'm not sure about the fifth one yet. I'm really looking forward to the rest. I might way until December because I know a few schools might have big recruiting weekends. I was thinking about Alabama for the Mississippi State game so we'll see."

As far as a decision, Phillips said he knows he's entering the home stretch of his recruitment.

"I think it will come in December," he said. "I'm going to wait and finish my visits out and hopefully I have them done by then."