CAM PHILLIPS INKS DEAL WITH CAROLINA PANTHERS

Chris Hirons

August 26, 2020

Life has come full circle for former Virginia Tech wide receiver Cam Phillips.

The former undrafted free agent was signed to a one-year deal earlier today by the Carolina Panthers on a presumably one-year deal, according to a report from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

An NFL undraftee-turned-star in the XFL, professional football’s most recent start up league, Phillips posted a league-high 455 yards on 31 receptions, which was good for a crisp 14.7 yards-per-catch for the Houston Roughnecks.

In a season that was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, Phillips played in all five games, recording double digit targets and at least eight catches in three of them. In two of those instances, Phillips recorded 120-plus yards, including a 194-yard performance against the Tampa Bay Vipers.

A star at Virginia Tech in his final two seasons, Phillips racked up over 3,000 receiving yards on 236 catches in 49 career games. In his junior and senior seasons in 2016 and 2017, Phillips brought in a combined 1,947 yards on 147 catches, which was good for 12 touchdowns. The Charlotte, N.C. native left his mark as a Hokie leaving Blacksburg as the all-time leader at Virginia Tech in receptions and receiving yards.

A Second team All-ACC nominee by Pro-Football Focus, Phillips declared for the NFL Draft in 2018, and ultimately went undrafted.

To his avail, the Buffalo Bills signed him to a one-year deal and invited him to training camp. Failing to make the week one roster, Buffalo waived him, before signing him back to the practice squad.

After proving his worth to the coaching staff, Phillips was promoted to the active roster on Oct. 18. The then 22-year-old appeared in two games, recording a catch for nine yards. However, the Bills waived him on Nov. 5.

After being taken in the sixth round of the XFL Draft in October 2019, the Roughnecks paired him with P.J. Walker, who was arguably the top quarterback during the abbreviated 2020 XFL season. Walker also signed with the Panthers this offseason, so the duo will reunite, until at least cut day, in Carolina.