Yahoo Sports UCLA DE and former 5-star recruit Jaelan Phillips medically retires
One of the top players in the 2017 recruiting class has been forced to end his college football career.
A spokesperson for UCLA said defensive end Jaelan Phillips will medically retire. Phillips was a 5-star recruit in the class of 2017 and the No. 6 player overall according to Rivals. Phillips was one of two 5-star commits in UCLA’s final recruiting class under former coach Jim Mora.
UCLA OLB Jaelan Phillips has medically retired, per a spokesperson for the school. He was ESPN’s top-ranked defensive recruit in the Class of 2017.
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) December 16, 2018
[Get ready for National Signing Day: Sign up for Rivals, get free team gear]
Bruin Report said earlier Saturday that Phillips had left UCLA. The defensive end had a concussion that ended his season after four games in 2018 and played in just six games as a freshman in 2017 because of injuries. He had 20 tackles and a sack in his four games in 2018. The Bruins finished the 2018 season at 3-9 in Chip Kelly’s first season with the team.
Phillips was ranked ahead of players like Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm and Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond in the 2017 Rivals recruiting rankings. The Redlands, California, native chose UCLA over a host of big-name schools and had offers from Power Five programs from all across the country.
– – – – – – –
Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
Follow @NickBromberg on Twitter
More from Yahoo Sports:
• Wizards acquire Ariza in two-team deal with Suns
• Eagles QB Wentz won’t play vs. Rams with back injury
• Kings troll Steph Curry over moon landing comments
• Kobe Bryant surprises Browns with visit ahead of Broncos game
