Three highlight plays changed quarterback Johnathon Phillips’ college recruiting.
Army linebackers coach Juice Weaver was visiting Parish Episcopal School in Dallas to offer one of Phillips’ teammates.
Parish coach Jordan Swinford showed Weaver Phillips’ game film. After watching three plays, Weaver offered Phillips on April 29.
Phillips took an unofficial visit to West Point Friday and committed to Army coach Jeff Monken in his office.
“When I went up there each coach welcomed me and told me how excited they were to meet me,” Phillips said. “After seeing their beautiful facilities, I decided to commit.”
Phillips picked Army over offers from Navy and Memphis, both perennial American Conference contenders.
“The opportunity to play quarterback at a school like West Point and the leadership experience I will receive at such a beautiful place is why I chose Army over Navy and Memphis,” Phillips said. “There are very few schools that teach the vital skill of leadership.”
Phillips will continue a long line of service in his family. His father, Douglas, and an older brother served in the Air Force. Another older brother was a Marine. Army was on Phillips’ recruiting list from the start.
“West Point was my dad’s dream school as a kid,” Phillips said.
Phillips helped Parish Episcopal to a Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Division I state title last fall, scoring two touchdowns in the championship. He was named first-team, all-state as an athlete. Phillips believes Army’s run-based offense fits his skill set. He accounted for 23 rushing TDs, added two receiving touchdowns and threw for three more in 2025.
“I love how army’s offense is centered around the run game as they allow the quarterback to get loose in the backfield,” Phillips said. “We run something very similar at Parish. When I am in the game, I love to run the ball up the middle.”
