SAN FRANCISCO – University of Utah starting cornerback
Clark Phillips III has been named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday, coming off his performance in Utah's 42-16 win over Oregon State.
Also named Walter Camp National FBS Defensive Player of the Week, Phillips continues to stand out among the nation's elite cornerbacks with three interceptions in the Week 5 win over the Beavers. It included a 38-yard pick-six for Phillips, highlighting a day in which the Utes tallied four interceptions as a team.
The native of Lakewood, California, who also had three tackles in the contest, owns the most interceptions in a game (3) by an FBS player this season and tied for second all-time at Utah in single-game interceptions. It was the first three-interception game by a Ute since 2009 (Robert Johnson at Colorado State).
He needed little time to get onto the stat sheet, intercepting Oregon State's quarterback on just the second play from scrimmage and running it back 19 yards—setting up the Utes for a quick three-play touchdown drive and an early 7-0 lead.
Later in the opening quarter—and with the score tied seven-apiece—Phillips made a perfect read for his second interception and hustled 38 yards down the Utah sideline to the end zone, his third career pick-six.
Phillips' final interception of the game came in the fourth quarter. On second-and-goal from the Utes' five-yard line, he outjumped the Beaver wide receiver in the corner of the end zone, coming down with the ball for his third interception and putting an early exclamation on the victory.
His four interceptions on the season are tied for first nationally. In his career, Phillips has seven career interceptions with three pick-sixes.
His three career interceptions returned for touchdowns is the second-most by an active player in the FBS this season and leads all active players in the Pac-12. All-time in Utah history, Phillips' three career pick-sixes is tied for second-most.
Clark Phillips III • 2022 Awards & Accolades
- Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 3)
- Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 2)
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List
- Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List
- Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List
- Preseason All-America (AP; Athlon Sports; Phil Steele; Pro Football Focus; Pro Football Network; Walter Camp)
NEXT UP
The Utes will hit the road to Pasadena, Calif., to take on the UCLA Bruins on Saturday, Oct. 8, kicking off at 1:30 p.m. MT. The game will air on FOX.
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