DCHS senior Lucas Phillips signed to play football with Stetson University in Orlando, Fla.
A three year starter for the Tigers, Phillips looks to compete for the starting quarterback position for the Hatters this fall.
Stetson, who has not competed in football since 1956, will return to the gridiron for the 2013 season.
Playing in the Pioneer League, Phillips and company will have their work cut out for them this season as a start-up program.
Phillips was rated as their number-one prospect when the season ended.
The Smithville Review sat down with Phillips after the signing and asked the young man a few questions.
Smithville Review: Big day for you and your family. What are your emotions right now?
Lucas Phillips: Pretty exciting. I’m ready to get going. We have had a successful basketball season, but I’m starting to miss football. I want to get down to Orlando and check things out. Now that this has happened, I’m just anxious to get going.
Review: You have played football with a core group of players since you were in Jr. Pro. What does signing a scholarship mean to your teammates that will not play at the college level?
Phillips: I hope they feel that they are there with me. They are a big reason why I am going, where I am going. We have all been together since Jr. Pro. You have been with us, Coach Trapp has been with us since we were six years old, and we all have put in so much hard work. That is the reason we have been successful. I hope they have a sense of accomplishment for themselves too. Everyone has congratulated me, but I want them to know that there is a bond that will keep us together always.
Review: What are your future plans after graduation?
Phillips: When I get to Orlando, I want to really focus and work hard. I need to gain some weight so I can compete because competing is what I love to do. I am shooting to be the starting quarterback this season. Hopefully, I can have a good couple of years, and then we will see where it goes from there.
Review: By being awarded a football scholarship, do you think some of the younger players will look to you as an example that all the hard work on and off the field pays off and will want to follow in your footsteps?
Phillips: I sure do hope so. One of the big things when I was a freshman was Hunter Poteete going to college to play football. That had a big influence on me. I thought, wow, this is real. High school goes by so quick, so I need to work really hard the next few years. I have had some underclassmen come up to me and say, “Hey, I want to go play college football.” So, I tell them it takes hard work, but it can happen to you. I hope it does impact them. We may come from a small town, but it doesn’t matter how big you are. It matters how much you put into it.
Review: Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Phillips: There are a lot of people that I would like to thank. It starts with the first years in Jr. Pro. We went several years undefeated, winning multiple championships. I want to thank all of my high school coaches, starting with Coach Steve Trapp, who helped me a lot. I would like to thank my family, especially my mom and dad. They have supported me, along with my Aunt DeeDee and Uncle Mike. My Nana and Pa. Jr. Pro coaches, Eric “Squeaker” Drennan, Darrell Gill and Donnie Roller. I could go on forever, but I need to thank God and Jesus Christ for the ability to play. That is number one.
Review: Coach Trapp, is there anything you would like to add?
DCHS Head coach Steve Trapp: I am just really impressed by how much he has improved since his freshman season to now. If you would have told me, his freshman year, that he would accomplish some of the things he has, I probably would have smiled real big. He grew a lot and worked really hard both physically and mentally.
The best part of his game is how well he understands the game of football. I think Stetson's coaches will be shocked about how much he knows about the game and what to do with the football when it is in his hands.
He is going into a good situation, and I think he has a great attitude. Lucas just needs to stay humble. He needs to understand that he will no longer be the big man on campus. I am confident that he will represent DeKalb County well, and he will make us all proud.