Playing his Part: Phillips hopes to reach his enormous potential for BYU this season
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- BYU receiver Jojo Phillips goes through 1-on-1 drills during Tuesday’s spring practice session. March 10, 2026
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- Jojo Phillips is just one of several talented receivers looking to replace both Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston for BYU this season. March 10, 2026
At a glance, BYU receiver Jojo Phillips looks the part.
The former high school basketball star stood in at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds with a physique noticeably upgraded from his past three seasons in Provo when fielding questions from the media following Tuesday’s practice session. As always, Phillips proved affable, but perhaps a bit more serious than he has in prior interviews, and for good reason.
With the departures of Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston, both of whom were clearly separated as the Cougar’s top two wideouts last season, Phillips has a prime opportunity ahead of him to establish himself as the No. 1 option on Bear Bachmeier’s passing tree. In other words, it’s time for Phillips to start playing the part he appears custom made for.
“I do feel like I’m ready now that I’m going into year four, which is crazy,” Phillips, who arrived at BYU just prior to the 2023 season, said. “It went by really fast, but I feel like I’m ready now. I learned a lot from Chase through the years, learned a lot from Darrius (Lassiter), Keelan (Marion), and just all the older guys that came through here that was here before me. So I feel like I’m ready for sure.”
Phillips has certainly shown flashes during his time at BYU. But consistency has been an issue, and an issue he owns, and perhaps particularly on the heels of some spotty play last season after he returned from the field after missing several weeks with a collarbone injury. Leading up to postseason play, Phillips appeared hesitant while dropping several easy receptions.
Fortunately those inconsistencies didn’t show up during the Pop-tarts Bowl, where Phillips proved solid in hauling in four passes for 53 yards without any drops.
“It helped me for sure gain my confidence back because, I’m not gonna lie, my confidence (had) gone down a little bit with me coming out dropping balls and just not playing after a while,” he said. ” … I was just like being scared of contact–not scared of contact a little bit, but just worrying about it. But the Pop-tarts Bowl really helped me a lot going into this next season and everything.”
Phillips is perhaps the headliner of a group of relatively inexperienced, but talented group of receivers vying for reps this spring. Notable names include former 4-star prospect Cody Hagen, transfers Reggie Frischknecht and Kyler Kasper, exciting freshmen like Legend Glasker, Terrance Saryon and Jaron Pula along with Tiger Bachmeier, Tei Nacua and a few others.
It’s created a competitive dynamic that could benefit Phillips and the entire group, as a whole.
“I’m just happy we come out, compete every day,” Phillips said. ” … I just like all of us coming out there and just competing and just being the best we can be every play.”
Other than proving more consistent on the field, Phillips is also working to become a better and more vocal leader, much like both Roberts and Kingston were a year ago. It’s a role that doesn’t come naturally to him, although he’s working hard to assert himself more and become more vocal.
“I’m a quiet guy. I don’t really say that much, but when I’m on the field then like I feel like it’s a different person in me,” Phillips said. “But like you just see me walking around like–around I’m just quiet and chill. But out here it brings a different side of me. I feel like this is my safe space and everything. I’m just comfortable.”
Indeed Phillips could prove a huge component with this year’s BYU offense, and should he maintain the momentum established in the Pop-tarts Bowl, while reaching his enormous potential, then it would be a very positive development for all involved.
