Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Harrison Phillips
Rank:11
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 307 lbs
Experience: 6th year
College: Stanford
Stats (In NFL): 62 games played, 28 starts, 166 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, 4 fumble recoveries
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 14
Kevin Fielder: 11
Judd Zulgad: 9
Saivion Mixson: 11
Average: 11.25
Best case scenario
A move away from playing 0T nose tackle in a 3-4 helps Phillips thrive on the defensive line.
Phillips was fine as a nose tackle last season, but it wasn’t the best use of him. Under Brian Flores, Phillips looks to be starting on one of the ends, which would allow him to play more within himself and thrive.
Worst case scenario
Phillips struggles playing too far away from the ball.
When you play nose tackle, being right on the ball can be an advantage when trying to jump the snap. The farther away you are from the ball, the more difficult it becomes. He also doesn’t have the same kind of quickness as most other defensive ends.
What to expect in 2023
Phillips is going to be in a better position this season than he was last year. That will make a difference in his overall play. The real intrigue is how Flores is going to use him. The expectation is that he will start at defensive end and not nose tackle, which should help run defense quite a bit, as he won’t have to two-gap on the interior in the same way.
Previous player profiles
90-Garett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-NaJee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-C.J. Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-T.J. Smith
72-Alan Ali
71-Josh Sokol
70-Blake Proehl
69-John Reid
68-Trishton Jackson
67-Kalon Barnes
66-Benton Whitley
65-Calvin Avery
64-Theo Jackson
63-William Kwenkeu
62-Sheldon Day
61-Tay Gowan
60-Ross Blacklock
59-Vederian Lowe
58-Jaren Hall
57-Nick Muse
56-Ivan Pace, Jr
55-Jalen Reagor
54-Luiji Vilain
53-Austin Schlottmann
52-Troy Dye
51-Olisaemeka Udoh
50-Nick Mullens
49-Kene Nwangwu
48-DeWayne McBride
47-Jaquelin Roy
46-Jay Ward
45-Brandon Powell
44-Troy Reeder
43-James Lynch
42-Greg Joseph
41-Johnny Mundt
40-Blake Brandel
39-Mekhi Blackmon
38-Chris Reed
37-Joejuan Williams
36-Ryan Wright
35-Esezi Otomewo
34-Jalen Nailor
33-Ty Chandler
32-Jonathan Bullard
31-D.J. Wonnum
30-Patrick Jones II
29-Andrew DePaola
28-Ed Ingram
27-Lewis Cine
26-Garrett Bradbury
25-C.J. Ham
24-Josh Metellus
23-Andrew Booth Jr.
22-Akayleb Evans
21-Jordan Hicks
20-Camryn Bynum
19-Khyiris Tonga
18-Dean Lowry
17-Brian Asamoah
16-Alexander Mattison
15-Jordan Addison
14-Josh Oliver
13-Ezra Cleveland
12-K.J. Osborn