Del’Shawn Phillips is headed to the NFL.
Illinois’ senior linebacker was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Falcons after going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft. Phillips’ teammate, Nick Allegretti, was selected in the sixth round by the Chiefs.
Phillips has long had the physical tools and football instincts to contribute at the next level, as we discussed when reviewing draft candidates last summer. Lovie Smith leaned on Phillips heavily last season as he was the most experienced linebacker on the roster and certainly also one of the most talented.
Impact on the Illini
Phillips had a successful 2018 season, finishing with 95 tackles, 6.