Ex-Chattanooga WR Sam Phillips commits to Iowa via transfer portal

IOWA CITY — Former Chattanooga wide receiver Sam Phillips has committed to Iowa football, he announced Thursday afternoon on social media.

Phillips will join the Hawkeyes after four years with FCS-level Chattanooga, where he amassed 153 career receptions for 2,088 yards. He set the Mocs’ freshman school record in 2022 with 44 receptions.

Most recently, Phillips had 49 receptions for a team-high 803 receiving yards this season as the Mocs went 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Southern Conference play. That included a respectable five receptions for 54 yards against eventual CFP team Tennessee in Week 1.

The Cartersville, Ga., native will have one year of eligibility remaining as he looks to boost an aerial attack that ranked 104th nationally in passing efficiency in 2024. Jacob Gill was the only Iowa wideout to have more than 15 receptions.

Phillips joins ex-Auburn quarterback Hank Brown, ex-Central Michigan defensive lineman Jonah Pace, ex-South Dakota State defensive lineman Bryce Hawthorne and most notably ex-SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski as Iowa’s fifth portal addition of this cycle.

The winter portal window is already closed, but that only precludes players from entering the portal (with some exceptions). Those already in the portal do not have any nearing deadlines to commit to a school.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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